Cross-Group Invariance of Factorial Structure of the Identity Style Inventory among Iranian Adolescents

this study was aimed to test the invariance of factorial structure of the Identity Style Inventory (ISI; Berzonsky, 1992) in 15– 17 year olds adolescents. The sample consisted of 376 high school students (181 males, 195 females). The ISI was adminestered to the participants. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the cross-group validity or invariance of factorial structure of ISI among males and females studying in first, second and third grades of high school. The results of single-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that both the three-factor structure of identity styles (informational identity, normative identity, and diffuse avoidant identity) and the mono-factor structure of identity commitment fit the data in an acceptable level for males and females and the three grade subgroups. The results of multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated crossgroup invariance of factor structure, factor loadings, and factor variances and covariances of the ISI in gender and grade subgroups. Emphasizing the group invariance of factorial structure of ISI, these findings indicate that ISI is a promising tool for measuring identity styles in gender and grade subgroups.