Contributions of Family Environment and Identity Formation Towards Adolescents' Alienation

The present study was an attempt to understand the contribution of family environment and identity formation towards adolescents, alienation. A sample of 200 adolescents (100 boys and 100 girls) in age range 18-21 years. were administered the General Alienation Scale (Ray, 1982), Indian adapted version of Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-2 (Sandhu & Tung, 2003) which was originally developed by Bennison and Adams (1986), and Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos, 1986). Results of step-wise Multiple Regression Analysis revealed that, for both genders. greater identity achievement, and foreclosure were significant contributors towards lesser alienation.. Greater moratorium and diffusion may increase alienation in both genders. Within the family environment. excessive conflict may increase alienation. whereas higher cohesion. and control are significant contributors towards lesser alienation for both genders. Greater expressiveness, and intellectual cultural orientation in the family reduces vulnerability towards alienation in girls, and greater achievement orientation in the family contributes towards lesser alienation in boys. Overall, boys scored significantly more than girls on alienation. All the family environment dimensions have strong correlations with identity achievement and diffusion.