Browsing by Author "Wytkind, Lindsay"

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    Individual Differences in Career and Parent Identity Development and Integration Among College Women and Adult Mothers
    (2020) Wytkind, Lindsay; Lilgendahl, Jennifer
    Research about identity development suggests that exploration and commitment to identity domains leads to identity achievement, which is important for optimal psychological functioning. Additionally, integrating multiple identity domains is a key part of identity development, as it leads to a cohesive sense of self for individuals. Women often struggle to integrate two key identity domains -- career and parent identities -- as there is still intense societal pressure for women to follow traditional domestically-focused gender norms. In two studies, one with college women and one with adult mothers, the present research addresses the development and negotiation of career and parent identities through analyzing the individual differences in personality traits and socio-economic status for women in these samples, and how this in turn impacts their well-being. Using a mixed-methods approach, we gathered quantitative data through scales and qualitative data through written answers to narrative prompts. In both studies, we found that personality traits strongly related to individual differences in how women develop and anticipate/experience their career-parent identity negotiation. In Study 1, we found that SES did not significantly relate to career-parent identity negotiation. However, in Study 2, we found that SES significantly and interestingly related to the ways that mothers experienced their career-parent identities and reported their well-being. In particular, we found that career-parent identity conflict for low SES mothers more negatively impacted their well-being.