Abstract
Objective:
Gender may have an influence on the development of sense of identity. The aim of this study is to investigate the development of problems in sense of identity with regard to gender and also to find out the relationships between identity confusion and psychiatric symptoms.
Method:
The sample consisted of138 male adolescents from a health technician vocational high school and 76 female adolescents from a nursing vocational high school. Participants were given a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Symptom Check List 90-R (SCL-90-R), and the Sense of Identity Assessment Form (SIAF).
Results:
In this sample, total scores of SIAF in girls were significantly higher than those of boys (p=0.003). Identity confusion was found in 23.7%o of girls and 12.3% of boys (p=0.027). The general symptom index for psychiatric problems in girls was significantly higher than boys (p=0.000). In both sexes, the scores of sense of identity were positive correlated with the general symptom index scores of the SCL 90-R (r=0.78 for girls and r=0.60 for boys, respectively).
Conclusion:
This study suggests that female adolescents are more likely to have identity confusion and psychiatric symptoms than male adolescents. Moreover, it is also suggested that there can be a positive relationship between psychiatric symptoms and identity confusion.
Keywords: Identity confusion, adolescent, gender, psychiatric symptoms.
