[Depersonalization experiences in adolescents].

OBJECTIVES

The present study examined how widespread experiences of depersonalization are in adolescence and how they are connected to self-esteem and self-awareness.

METHODS

We tested 352 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years by means of standardized questionnaires.

RESULTS

The results show: (1) that the majority of adolescents has had few experiences of depersonalization. (2) We observed clear sex differences in the course of age. Among female adolescents the number of experiences of depersonalization increased with age, whereas among male adolescents the number began to decrease in mid-adolescence. (3) Adolescents whose experiences of depersonalization are intense do not differ from their counterparts in the study with regard to self-esteem; however, their sense of self-awareness is heightened. The results are discussed in respect to the formation of identity in adolescence.