Contemporary psychology, Vol. 10 No. 1, 2007.
Original scientific paper
The role of Erikson's personality components in the psychological well-being of midlife and older adults
Ivana Tucak
orcid.org/0000-0003-2166-1089
; Department of Psychology, University of Zadar
Marina Nekić
orcid.org/0000-0003-4963-8219
; Department of Psychology, University of Zadar
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine components of personality emerging from the first seven developmental stages according to Erikson's theory and their interrelations in two samples of adults. We also tried to examine the relationships of these seven components (trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, intimacy and generativity) with some aspects of psychological well-being of adult subjects (i.e. their life satisfaction and perception of personal (in)competence). 108 middle aged adults (aged 37-50) and 86 older adults (aged 60-70) participated in the study. Tested variables were measured using Erikson scale (Ochse i Plug, 1986), Satisfaction with Life Scale (Cantril, 1965) and Incompetence Scale (Bezinović, 1988). The results of correlation analyses partly confirmed Erikson's personality components and their hypothesized interrelations. Contrary to expectations, significant effects of sex and age on personality components were not found (except on trust component). Results of regression analyses tended to lend support to Erikson's suggestions about the impact of favourable psychosocial crises outcomes on psychological well-being. Among all of Erikson's personality components, the best predictors of life satisfaction and perception of personal (in)competence were intimacy and productivity.
Keywords
Erikson's personality components; life satisfaction; perception of personal (in)competence; adulthood
Hrčak ID:
81380
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2007.
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