Abstract
The present study investigated mother-child correlations in the process of epigenetic development, and the influence of such correlations on youth identity formation. Participants were 104 college students (21 males, 83 females) and their mothers. Correlational and Structural Equation Modeling analysis revealed the following: (1) there were many significant correlations between psychosocial themes of epigenetic schema for both mothers and youth; (2) significant mother-child correlations did not appear to exist for aspects of basic trust and autonomy; (3) mother’s basic trust and autonomy were significantly correlated with youth identity; and (4) basic trust and autonomy of youth function as mediating variables in the model of maternal influence on youth identity.
