Identity, cohesion, and enmeshment across cultures

The impact of family differentiation (cohesion and enmeshment), as measured by the Colorado Self-Report of Family Functioning Inventory, on ego identity development (exploration and commitment), as measured by the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire, was examined. This study also examined the impact of family differentiation on psychological well-being, both directly and as mediated by ego identity development. The psychological well-being variables were life satisfaction, measured by the Satisfaction with Life Scale; depression, measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D); and state anxiety, measured by a short form of the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-6). The research questions were: 1) Do cohesion and enmeshment influence commitment and exploration? 2) Do cohesion and enmeshment influence psychological well-being (anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction)? 3) Do these findings differ between non-Hispanic white participants and Hispanic participants of any race? Participants were undergraduate college students at two public universities in the southeastern United States. The total sample size was n = 563. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the hypothesized relationships. This study also examined the mediating role of identity formation variables drawn from the ego identity development paradigm in cross-cultural context. Results show that, consistent with the study predictions, cohesion had significant positive effects on commitment and life satisfaction, and significant negative effects on depression and anxiety (both directly and as mediated by commitment). Also as predicted, commitment had a significant positive direct effect on life satisfaction, and significant negative direct effects on depression and anxiety. However, no effects were observed for enmeshment or exploration, and no differences were observed between the Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Implications for ego identity theory and family relations theory are discussed, as well as limitations of the study methodology and proposals for future research.