Longitudinal Links Between Identity Development and the Vision of One’s Adult Life in Emerging Adulthood

Our longitudinal study aimed to investigate relationships between identity development and the vision of one’s adult life (VOAL) in emerging adults. In the first measurement, 299 emerging adults aged 17 to 27 participated, and 177 participated in the second measurement (9-10 months later). Participants were asked to complete the Dimensions of Identity. Development Scale and write about their envisioned future adult life. Written answers about the VOAL were coded by trained judges to allow for quantitative analyses. The results indicated that both identity exploration and commitment were related to the structure of the emerging adults’ VOAL and their subjective attitudes toward the possessed VOAL but in different ways. We also observed that changes in identity processes over time turned out to be related to changes in the VOAL. Our results suggest the presence of a reciprocal relationship between identity development and thinking about the future in emerging adults.