Identity change between late adolescence and adulthood

Change in Identity status between age 18, age 22, and age 35 was studied. Longitudinal change in four identity statuses - Diffused, Foreclosed, Moratorium and Achieved - was examined using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM). The results indicated that the developmental level of identity generally progressed between age 18 and age 35. However, there was significant variability among the participants in the degree to which they had changed. Age 18 personality variables of Narcissism and Defense Mechanisms were found to predict both the direction and magnitude of change at age 35. However, these personality variables, when assessed at subsequent ages (22, 35), were not associated with identity change.