THE EFFECT OF PARENTAL RESPONSIVENESS AND CONTROL ON THE PERSONAL IDENTITY DOMAINS OF ADOLESCENTS

One of the key developmental tasks in adolescence is to develop a coherent identity. Adolescents begin to explore their identity and increasingly develop a subjective feeling of self-sameness and continuity over contexts and time. To investigate the effect of parental responsiveness and control on the personal identity domains of adolescents. The study sample included 259 adolescents (124 males and 135 females) between the ages of 12 and 19 who were selected using an online form, utilizing the voluntary response sampling technique, which had an equal chance of choosing each participant.  The study showed that there is relationship between fathers’ responsiveness and three domains of personal identity, commitment making (r=.187**, P= .002), identification with commitment (r=.126*, P= .042), exploration in depth (r=.287**, P= .0001). This table also shows a statistically significant relationship between fathers’ control and two domains of personal identity, commitment making (r=.154*, P= .013), exploration in depth (r=.291**, P= .0001). Also, there is an inverse significant relationship only between mother’ control and ruminative exploration domain (r= -.144*, P= .021). These findings found that there is relationship between fathers’ responsiveness and three domains of personal identity. Therefore, encouraging the active involvement of fathers in rearing children. A culturally congruent parenting styles guideline should be developed to maintain the development of positive personal identity.