| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of emotional maturity and
social media attachment for identity development among adolescents. Cross
sectional survey research design was employed on 441 randomly selected
adolescents in six nominated secondary schools from six nominated zonal towns of
Oromia region. Aspects of identity questionnaire, emotional maturity scale, and
social media attachment scale were employed for the assessment. Descriptive
statistics, independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and
multiple liner regression were utilized to analyze the data. As a result, Out of 441
participants, 6.3% of the adolescents reported diffused identity development; 59.6%
adolescents had been extremely emotionally immature; and 35.4% of adolescents
were attached to social media inappropriately. Moreover, collective identity and
personal identity were reported highly and poorly, respectively as identity
development dimensions by the adolescents. Besides, rejection by others, unhealthy
ethnic based political competition, sudden changes in life, hate speech in social
media, and unrealistic expectations were highly reported causes for identity crisis.
Furthermore, personal disintegration, social maladjustment, lack of independence,
and emotional instability were reported as emotional maturity dimensions. Pearson
correlation result showed that emotional immaturity strongly and positively
correlated with social media attachment. On the other hand, there was a moderate
and negative correlation between identity development not only with emotional
immaturity but also with extreme social media attachment. Specifically, social
identity with social maladjustment, relational identity with emotional regression,
collective identity with lack of independence, and personal identity with personal
disintegration were negatively and strongly correlated. In addition, ANOVA result
revealed that birth order, average family monthly income, educational status of
parents had statistically significant mean effect on identity development, emotional
immaturity, and media attachment with different effect size. Likewise, independent
sample t-test result showed that number of languages spoken and variation of family
ethnic background had a statistically significant mean effect on social media
attachment, emotional immaturity and identity development. Furthermore, multiple
liner regression analysis result showed that personal integration significantly
predicted identity development. Based on the findings, it is suggested that
collaborative, multidimensional, and culture based preventive and intervention
programs to create a helpful learning environment that promotes students’ positiveidentity development and psycho-socio-emotional wellbeing, improves their
productivity, and enhances their success be developed and applied. |
