Psychosocial Relationships of Identity Diffusion in Adolescents

INTRODUCTION Adolescence is a multifaceted phase for which there are numerous definitions. The term adolescence originated from the Latin word "adolescere", which means to grow or to mature (Paludi, 2002). It is defined as a transitional life phase of human development that usually happens during the period from puberty to maturity in adulthood (Erikson, 1968). Various researchers focus on different perspectives in defining adolescence, making it very difficult to have one absolute definition. Macleod (2003) explains that adolescents are neither children nor adults and that the developmental phase of adolescence serves as a bridge between the two stages. Originally, it was not regarded as a distinct developmental period because, already at a young age, children were forced into adult roles, such as marriage (Louw & Louw, 2007). During the industrialization period, children's rights became more important, and adolescence emerged as a developmental phase (Richter, 2006; Sigelman & Rider, 2009). Some authors suggest that adolescence can be explained by using chronological age (Sadock & Sadock, 2007). Adolescence is divided into three stages, namely early, middle, and late adolescence. Early adolescence is regarded as the period between 12 and 14 years of age and is characterized by the most prominent initial physical and behavioral changes (Sadock & Sadock, 2007). Early adolescence is also typified as a period of overwhelming confusion and rejection of the family (Sadock & Sadock, 2007). Middle adolescence is indicated as the time between 14 and 16 years of age. During middle adolescence, adolescents are preoccupied mostly with becoming autonomous (WHO, 2014b). Finally, late adolescence occurs between 17 and 19 years