Identity Crisis and its Relationship to Self-concept among Adolescents in the Schools of Bethlehem Governorate

Abstract

This study aims to find out the relationship between the identity crisis and the self-concept of adolescents in Bethlehem governorate schools. It also aims to identify the significance of the differences between the averages of the responses of the study individuals with regard to the level of identity crisis and self-concept according to the variables of gender, grade, and specialization. This study employed the correlational descriptive method. The study population consisted of (6443) male and female students from whom a cluster sample, amounting to (916) male and female students, was chosen. In this study, the researcher used both the scales of identity crisis and self-concept as a study tool. The results showed that the level of the identity crisis scale was moderate, whereas the level of the self-concept scale was high; and they also indicated a negative correlation between identity crisis and self-concept. The results also showed the presence of statistically significant differences in the identity crisis scale with regard to the variables of gender, in favor of males; grade, in favor of the twelfth grade; while there were no statistically significant differences in the identity crisis scale with regard to the specialization variable. Furthermore, the results showed statistically significant differences in the self-concept scale with regard to the gender variable which was in favor of females and the absence of significant statistical differences in the self-concept scale with regard to the variables of grade and major. In light of the results of this study, the researcher recommends that parents and teachers should assist adolescents in achieving identity through assigning them appropriate social roles; and that teachers and psychological counselors must address the behavioral and psychological problems that adolescents suffer from and which impede the building of their identity. Teachers and psychological counselors should increase their interest in the subject of self-concept among adolescent students by taking the necessary actions through the school administration to raise the level of self-concept and create the appropriate atmosphere to achieve this goal.