The Parental Identity Process of Young Men and Women without Children

Abstract

Goal. We have studied the specifics of parental identity processes of young men and women without children. We provide the results of empirical study obtained from the sample of male and female students of Kemerovo state university. Method. Participants (N=163) were at the age 17—33 years old (M=19,32; SD=2,50) and 63% were young women. We used Caregiving and Breadwinning Identity and Reflected Appraisal Inventory (J. Pleck and colleagues), test of statuses and structure of ego-identity (E.L. Soldatova), Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) (K. Luyckx and colleagues), Identity Stage Resolution Index (ISRI) (J.E. Cote) and test of life-meaningful orientations (D.A. Leontiev). Results and conclusions. We obtained some differences in the processes and content characteristics of parental identity among men and women without children. Male participants demonstrate lower level of commitment making and identification with commitment than women. Among men exploration in breadth and ruminative explorations are higher than among women. However, exploration in depth is higher in women. In contrast to women, men are characterized by the search for parental identity, related to the relationship with the father and the relationship to children.