Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
J Youth Adolesc. 2010 Nov;39(11):1265-73. doi: 10.1007/s10964-009-9481-1. Epub 2009 Nov 24.
While having a purpose in life has been theorized as a developmental asset, the extent to which adolescents cultivate a meaningful sense of direction is not well understood. In the present study, cluster analysis was used to classify adolescents by levels of purpose exploration and commitment. The sample (N = 318; 55% female) consisted of youth aged 14-18 and was predominantly White/non-Hispanic (76.3%). Results supported four meaningful yet distinguishable profiles of youth purpose that are largely consistent with theories on identity formation: Achieved, Foreclosed, Uncommitted, and Diffused. Hypothesized linkages with affect and hope were established across the profiles such that positive emotions and goal-directed thinking were most apparent among Achieved and Foreclosed youth and least apparent among Diffused and Uncommitted youth. Overall, findings demonstrate the inherent complexity in adolescents' engagement with purpose and suggest a correspondence between stronger commitments to purpose and youths' sense of personal agency and well-being.
虽然生活目标被认为是一种发展资产,但青少年培养有意义的方向感的程度还不是很清楚。在本研究中,聚类分析被用来根据目的探索和承诺的水平对青少年进行分类。样本(N=318;55%为女性)由 14-18 岁的青少年组成,主要为白人和非西班牙裔(76.3%)。研究结果支持了四种有意义但可区分的青少年目标模式,这些模式在很大程度上与身份形成理论一致:实现、封闭、未承诺和弥散。在不同的模式中建立了与情感和希望的假设联系,即积极的情绪和目标导向的思维在实现型和封闭型青少年中最为明显,而在弥散型和未承诺型青少年中则最为不明显。总的来说,研究结果表明青少年在参与目标方面的内在复杂性,并表明对目标的更强承诺与青少年的个人能动性和幸福感之间存在对应关系。