Association between benefit-finding and identity development in adolescence: are there benefit-finding domains related to high identity achievement?

Abstract

In this study, the association between extracting benefits from negative experiences and identity development was explored by focusing on differences in benefit-finding domains. Participants (508 undergraduates) recalled a past event they considered to be the most influential in terms of creating their current identity, regardless of whether the event was negative or positive, and then completed the Centrality of Event Scale, Identity Scale, and items regarding benefit-finding. Consequently, the benefit-finding domain of ‘personal growth’ and the pattern of extracting sufficient benefits in various different domains were determined to be associated with high identity achievement. Furthermore, it was also suggested that negative experiences result in higher identity achievement than positive experiences, provided sufficient benefits are successfully extracted from various different domains.