FACTORS REDUCING THE RISK OF SOCIAL MALADJUSTMENT: A NARRATIVE APPROACH
TO ADOLESCENT IDENTITY FORMATION Cover Image

FACTORS REDUCING THE RISK OF SOCIAL MALADJUSTMENT: A NARRATIVE APPROACH TO ADOLESCENT IDENTITY FORMATION
FACTORS REDUCING THE RISK OF SOCIAL MALADJUSTMENT: A NARRATIVE APPROACH TO ADOLESCENT IDENTITY FORMATION

Author(s): Izabella Haertlé, Piotr Oleś
Subject(s): Social psychology and group interaction, Cognitive Psychology, Psychology of Self, Behaviorism
Published by: Towarzystwo Naukowe KUL & Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
Keywords: maladjustment; narrative approach; adolescence; identity processing styles; life story interview; self-confrontation method;

Summary/Abstract: The research aimed to check if the construction of narrative identity by adolescents at risk of malad- justment contributes to their adaptive social functioning. It also aimed to identify factors related to identity on which the adjustment of adolescents at risk of social maladjustment depends. A natural experiment was conducted in Poland among youths from sociotherapy centres (n = 60, aged 18–20 years, 33 women and 27 men). A group of graduates at these centres (n = 31, aged 21–24 years, 17 women and 14 men) was included in the exploratory study and compared with the group of students in terms of maladjustment, ego-resiliency, and identity. The experiment shows that the construction of a narrative identity through a life story interview contributes to better social adaptation, which means a lower risk of maladjustment. The diffuse-avoidant identity style predisposes to maladjustment, whereas ego-resiliency is associated with a higher level of adjustment. Thus the narrative interview method can find application in the therapy of adolescents at risk of maladjustment.

  • Issue Year: 26/2023
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 47-65
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: English