Factors That Influence the Ego Developmental Crisis State in Adolescece

Abstract

The present study investigated factors that influence the ego developmental crisis state (ECS) in adolescence. In Study 1,191 junior and senior high school students and college students completed questionnaires assessing their ego developmental crisis state, ego strength, the existence of a chum in pre-adolescence, familial relations, and friendship. In Study 2,299 junior and senior high school students completed questionnaires assessing the impact of life events and their parents' image in childood, in addition to the above factors (with the exception of ego strength). The results showed that the degree of ego strength was the factor that most influenced the ego developmental crisis state. The results showing the importance of the infantile stage on the ego developmental crisis state supported Radke-Yarrow's socialization model (Radke-Yarrow et al., 1983). The impact of life events was also shown to be an influential factor in a maladjusted reaction to the ego developmental crisis state.