In the article, the author summarizes the main findings
of her research, aimed at examining the role parents and
interactions within the family system play in the identity
formation of female students. The research of the family
is based on Beavers’ family competence theory (Beavers,
1976; Beavers and Hampson, 1993). The two foundations
for the research of identity development are the aspect of
psychosocial development, presented by Erikson’s (1968;
1989) theory and the theory of identity statuses (Marcia,
1993a). The instruments used are based on the theoretical
foundations listed above. The research included 93
families (with both parents) of female adolescents –
students of the Faculty of Education in Ljubljana. One of
the main findings of the research is that family members
perceive interaction within the family differently. This
can be an important source of conflict in the family. How
a family deals with conflict depends on the competence of the family system, which also represents the foundation for
the healthy psychosocial development of the adolescent.
Both parents and their psychosocial development also
play important, but different roles in their daughter’s
psychosocial and identity development.
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