成年初顯期的自我認同狀態、自我定義記憶之解釋歷程與心理幸福感之關係探討

Identity Status, Self-Defining Memory and Psychological Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood

本研究目的在探討成年初顯期年輕人的自我認同狀態與心理幸福感之間的關係，同時結合自我定義記憶的內容分析方法，進一步探討年輕人轉折時刻自我定義記憶之解釋歷程與其自我認同狀態、心理幸福感之間的關係。本研究之研究對象為114位成年初顯期階段年輕人（男性14位，女性100位），平均年齡為20.6歲。研究工具包含「自我認同狀態量表」、「心理幸福感量表」和「自我定義記憶問卷」，其中「自我定義記憶問卷」之解釋歷程分析向度包含「意義化歷程」與「污染化歷程」兩部份。研究結果發現：（1）認同達成狀態與整體心理幸福感有正相關、認同混淆狀態與整體心理幸福感有負相關、認同尋求狀態與整體心理幸福感有負相關、認同早閉狀態與整體心理幸福感有負相關；（2）認同達成狀態與「污染化歷程」有負相關、與「意義化歷程」有正相關，認同混淆狀態與「污染化歷程」有正相關；（3）「污染化歷程」與整體心理幸福感有負相關、「意義化歷程」與整體心理幸福感有正相關；（4）「污染化歷程」對認同混淆狀態與心理幸福感有間接效果。

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships among emerging adults’ identity statuses, self-defining memories and psychological well-being. The Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status, the Self-Defining Memory Questionnaire, and the Scale of Psychological Well-Being were administered to 114 emerging adult (14 males and 100 females). The Self-Defining Memory Questionnaire was used to collect the narrative on turning points. Adopting McAdams (1998; 1999)’s approach, we coded the narrative content into redemption sequences and contamination sequences to assess the emerging adults’ interpretations of past events. The 4 major findings were as follows: (1) Identity achievement status positively correlated with all 6 subscales and the composite measure of psychological well-being. Identity diffusion status negatively correlated with all 6 subscales and the composite measure of psychological well-being. Identity moratorium status negatively correlated with 4 of the 6 subscales (autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose of life, and self-acceptance) as well as the composite measure of psychological well-being. Identity foreclosure status negatively correlated with the subscale of purpose of life as well as the composite measure of psychological well-being. (2) Identity achievement status positively correlated with the redemption sequences of turning-point narratives and negatively correlated with the contamination sequences. Identity diffusion status positively correlated with the contamination sequences of turning-point narratives. (3) The redemption sequences of the turning-point narratives positively correlated with all 6 subscales and the composite measure of psychological well-being. The contamination sequences of the turning-point narratives negatively correlated with 5 of the 6 subscales (autonomy, purpose of life, positive relationship with others, purpose of life, and self-acceptance) as well as the composite measure of psychological well-being. (4) The contamination sequences of turning-point narratives had an indirect effect on the relationship between the diffusion status and the psychological well-being. The redemption sequences of the turning-point narratives showed no indirect effect on the relationship between achievement status and psychological well-being. Limitations of the present study and possible implications for future research are discussed.