Investigating the extent of modernism and its effect on rethinking youth identity

This research is functional in terms of goal, extensive in breadth, micro in scope and cross-sectional in terms of timing. Field research method using survey technique was applied and the data collection instrument was questionnaire. The statistical population includes all the youths in Isfahan out of which a sample of 385 people were chosen as the sample size using Cochran’s formula through proportionate stratified sampling. In order to investigate validity, confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity techniques (AVE index) were used and to calculate reliability Cronbach’s alpha test was utilized. The theoretical framework of the research includes different thinkers’ theories, most of which refer to Giddens and Burger’s theory of reflexivity. In the present research the extent of modernism among Isfahani youths was investigated. Then the effect of modernism and its components i.e., global orientation, individualism, futurism, and fashionism, on identity reflexivity in youths have been investigated. Consequently the average amount of modernism and identity reflexivity and their dimensions were estimated higher than average. Regarding the analysis conducted using Smart PLS software, the results indicated that modernism affects identity reflexivity in youths (0.481), and among modernism components, futurism enjoyed the highest path coefficient(0.453), and following that, fashionism (0.437), and global orientation(0.322) had the highest effects, respectively. In other words, the data fits the model and the indices are representative of the desirability of the structural equation model. Additionally, the dimensions of individualism had no influence on identity reflexivity in youths.