Identity Development Among Secondary School Students in Tehsil Sargodha Schools

Abstract

Identity development is a critical component of adolescent human development, characterized by ongoing processes of exploration and commitment that impact upon one's sense of identity in the educational and social environments. In the present study, an effort was made to investigate the identity development of secondary school students in Tehsil Sargodha, Pakistan. It also examined gender, grade level, and school type differences as well as the identity exploration to identity commitment continuum. A cross-sectional survey with quantitative approach was used. A standardized identity development scale was used to gather data from 295 secondary school students on the dimensions of exploration and commitment. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlation and simple linear regression analysis were used as statistical techniques. Results revealed that the level of students' identity development was moderate. There was a significant difference between the genders and between the different grades, but not among school types. There was a significant positive correlation between identity exploration and identity commitment. The analysis showed that identity exploration was a significant predictor of identity commitment for adolescents in regression analysis. The difference between institutions mainly influences identity development among adolescents indirectly, through their internal developmental processes. The process of exploration is important for enhancing commitment to the sense of identity in the school context.