Gender Differences in Adolescent Identity Formation

The objective of the present research was to study gender differences in adolescent identity formation process. For this purpose, a sample of 600 adolescents (300 boys and 300 girls) of age-range 13-21 years, were divided into three groups i.e., early, middle, and late adolescents sample. The sample belonged to various schools and colleges of Amritsar city (India). Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status -2 (EOMEIS-2; Bennion & Adams, 1986) was used in the study. The scores of four identity statuses, that is, of identity achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and diffusion were compared to study gender differences in the three age groups. t-test analyses and identity status classifications revealed that in all the three age groups, girls were higher than boys on identity achievement and moratorium, and were lower than boys on diffusion. Girls seem to be outperforming boys even in traditionally male-dominated areas of identity formation.