Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the relation between attachment and identity in adolescence and emerging adulthood. The participants filled out measures of attachment to parents and peers and identity development in relational and educational domains. By means of cluster analysis, participants have been classified into four clusters: individuals strongly attached to both parents and peers; individuals weakly attached to both parents and peers; individuals with high attachment to parents and low to peers; individuals with low attachment to parents and high to peers. In adolescence, gender differences in the distribution of participants among the four clusters were found. Associations between attachment clusters and identity was strong and differentiate in adolescents and emerging adults. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.