The purpose of this study is to determine through what media and how much ecological variables affect the ego-identity formation among adolescents. In particular, their media and amount of influence are analyzed according to sex and age of the youths....
The purpose of this study is to determine through what media and how much ecological variables affect the ego-identity formation among adolescents. In particular, their media and amount of influence are analyzed according to sex and age of the youths. For this investigation, spousal relationship, socioeconomic status of the family, peer relationship, and student-teacher relationship are taken for external variables; parental expectation from their childrens education, parental attitude to child rearing, family support, peer support, and ego identity for internal variables.
A random sample of 767 secondary school male and female students and 767 parents was investigated through questionnaires for the nine variables mentioned above.
The results of the questionnaires were analyzed by covariance structure analysis, and path analysis and Lisrel-pc 8.03 statistical analysis program were applied to determine cause-and-effect relations among the variables.
After reviewing previous studies, the following conclusions were derived:
First, in regard to the media through which these ecological variable are affecting the ego identity development, female adolescents are susceptible to spousal relationship, socioeconomic status of the family, and parental attitude to child rearing, parental expectation from their childrens education, parental attitude to child rearing, and peer support, but male adolescents are not noticeably affected by these variables. While parental expectation from education affect peer support positively for male adolescents, these variables have no effect on female adolescents.
Second, with respect to sexual differences, female adolescents are affected by familial factors more notably than male adolescents are.
Third, in regard to the media through which these ecological variable are affecting the ego identity development, the middle school students are susceptible to spousal relationship, parental expectation from their childrens education, parental expectation from their childrens education, and peer support, but the high school students are not noticeably affected by these variables. While socioeconomic status of the family, and peer support affect peer support, and the ego identity positively for the high school students, these variables have no effect on the middle school students.
Finally, as for the age differences, it was found that as they grow older, student-teacher relationship and peer support have a stronger influence than familial factors do.