An empirical test of the identity capital model

Abstract

In a previous issue of this journal, the identity capital model was presented as part of an effort to better understand the relationship between social context and identity formation (Côté, 1996a). The present paper provides an empirical test of that model as it applies to the late-adolescent passage of university students toward adulthood. A series of research questions are explored which reveal the following: (1) concepts used in the model can be reliably measured; (2) significant relationships exist among certain measures of identity capital resources; (3) these resources have significant associations with measures of identity capital acquisition; (4) over 2 years of university, identity capital increases overall for female students (on a measure of adult identity resolution) and for those of lower social class background (on a measure of community identity resolution); and (5) certain resources acquired before attending university are predictors of identity capital acquisition after 2 years of attendance, net of the identity capital with which students begin university.