Socio-cultural aspects of identity formation: The relationship between commitment and well-being in student samples from Cameroon and Germany

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between ego identity formation (commitment statuses) and subjective well-being among student samples from Cameroon and Germany. The Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status was administered to Cameroonian and German participants. Additionally, data on life satisfaction and mood states were collected. Firstly, the equivalence of measurements across cultural groups was examined. Subsequent analyses revealed that well-being was positively related to the level of identity achievement among participants from both cultural groups. In contrast, well-being did not show a positive association with commitments to goals and values that were adopted from significant others (Foreclosure). Gender did not moderate the relationship between well-being and identity statuses. Findings are discussed with respect to personal and socio-cultural aspects of identity development. Copyright © 2007, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.