Examining Identity Disturbance as a Mechanism Underlying Affectivity: An
Experimental Study Using the Identity Self-Focus Task
Abstract
Identity disturbance (ID) has been identified as a transdiagnostic
contributor to psychiatric symptoms and seems to be comprised of both
interpersonal and self-oriented mechanisms. This study developed the
identity self-focus experimental task, incorporating personalized
adjectives, reflection, and varying conditions by source (Self or Other)
of identity adjectives, to better understand the relation between ID and
affectivity. University students ( N=97) completed a positive
mood induction followed by the experimental manipulation— during which
they continuously rated their positive affect. Results implicated
specific facets of ID in higher negative and lower positive affect, and
ID predicted difficulty regulating positive emotions. Higher ID was also
associated with difficulty maintaining consistent positive affect for
those in the Self condition and was associated with poorer emotion
regulation for those in the Other condition. Findings suggests that ID
is implicated in an unhelpful cognitive and affective style, especially
for those with high levels of ID. While evidence-based treatments either
do not or only indirectly address identity functioning issues, results
suggest that measurement of ID and targeted intervention to strengthen
identity may support emotional health outcomes of therapeutic
treatments.