Identity Styles and Psychological Distress

Formation of identity entails the integration of skills, world view and identification which emerges as a relatively cohesive, unique and differentiated whole. An integrated explanatory self which identifies the individual’s thought and behavior and can be regarded as the underlying arena for psychological distress. The research purpose was to investigate the relationship between identity styles and psychological distress. Therefore, in a descriptive-correlative study, 3245 college students (1703 male students and 1534 female students) were tested with regard to the identity styles and psychological distress. The correlation results of the scores indicated that information-oriented style, normative style and identity commitment are significantly negatively correlated to psychological distress; however, diffuseavoidant style was significantly, positively correlated to psychological distress. It seems that, individuals who adopt diffuse-avoidant style delay decision-making on their identity and gradually these maladaptive and avoidant strategies give rise to distress.