Who Am I: Considerations for Adolescent Development During A Pandemic

Abstract

Adolescence is a unique time in which cognitive, affective, and social abilities are at critical periods of development. The result is the discovery of “Who Am I?” or adolescent identity development. Identity development during adolescence includes determining one’s values and creating meaning in life, as well as integrating how one is viewed by others and identifying contradictions among these perspectives. By developing an identity that integrates various features of their sense of self, adolescents can better interpret their life experiences, therefore improving their general well-being and health [1]. There are several aspects of adolescent identity development, including participation in sociocultural contexts such as home, school, or work, internal and psychological processes of exploring aspects of identity, and social group membership [2].