Predicting Identity Status: The Role of Attachment, Differentiation, and Meaning Making

Although identity is an important aspect of overall wellness, it is not yet understood how identity develops or how to accurately predict identity status. In this study of 192 emerging adult college students, the authors found that attachment, differentiation, and meaning-making subprocesses significantly predicted 3 of 4 identity statuses. Implications for counselors and counselor educators are discussed.