Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Graf, Shrutti Chatterjee
URN	etd-09212003-204320
Title	Cross-Cultural Study Of Adolescent Identity Formation And Autonomy Within The Context Of Parent-Adolescent Relationships
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Family and Child Sciences, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Ronald L. Mullis Committee Chair Akihito Kamata Committee Member Ann K. Mullis Committee Member Nicholas Mazza Committee Member
Keywords	Adolescent Identity Formation And Autonomy
Date of Defense	2003-08-02
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to examine the differences in adolescent identity formation and autonomy within and across two cultures. In addition, this study also investigated the influences of age and gender on identity formation and autonomy within the context of parent-adolescent relationships. The participants were comprised of 200 Asian Indian and 234 U.S. American adolescents between ages 13 and 18. This study employed a nonexperimental questionnaire-based research design. The findings revealed significant correlations between parent-adolescent relationships and adolescent identity formation. Adolescents’ autonomous qualities were also significantly associated with adolescents’ perceptions of their relationship with their parents. Multivariate analyses of covariance demonstrated younger Asian Indian adolescents as more foreclosed than older adolescents in India. However, age did not feature as a significant predictor of identity formation in U.S. American adolescents. Additionally, age did not emerge as a significant predictor of autonomy in adolescence. With regards gender differences, adolescent males in India as well as in the U.S. were more foreclosed than adolescent females. Further, in the U.S.A. but, not in India, adolescent males displayed greater deidealization than did adolescent females. Cross-culturally, Asian Indian and U.S. American adolescents did not significantly differ on the identity achievement status. But, adolescents in India scored significantly higher than did U.S. American adolescents on all the other domains of identity formation. Similarly, Asian Indian adolescents demonstrated higher levels of autonomy than did adolescents in the U.S.A. Implications of these findings are discussed.
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