The role of family communication patterns and birth order in adolescent identity states

This study investigated the role of family communication patterns and birth order in the identity state of adolescents. 

The method of this research was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of the study included 9th grade female students in Hamadan-Iran in the academic year of 2017-2018. Ninety students were selected through the convenient sampling method. The research tools were the Ritchie and Fitzpatrick Family Communication Pattern Questionnaire and the Bennion and Adams Identity Status Questionnaire. We analyzed the data using the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. 

The findings showed a positive and significant relationship between conversation pattern and achievement identity and a negative relationship with diffusion, foreclosure, and moratorium identities (P< 0.05). The conformity pattern has a positive and significant relationship with foreclosure and diffusion identities (P< 0.05). The birth order also had a positive and significant relationship with moratorium identity (P< 0.05), and the conformity pattern has a positive and significant role in predicting diffusion (P< 0.01) and foreclosure identity (P< 0.05). The birth order only has a significant role in predicting moratorium identity (P< 0.01). 

It seems that family communication patterns and birth order can predict adolescent identity states.