Young Europeans – An Intensive Longitudinal Study on European Identification Across Adolescence

The task of identity formation is central in adolescence. However, little is known about how identification with social groups, such as the European one, develops throughout adolescence, across different timescales. The current research filled this gap by examining mean-levels and heterogeneity in the short- and medium-term development of identification with the European group across two age cohorts and considering the interplay between the two timescales. The sample comprised 1,552 Italian adolescents (Mage=15.69, SDage=1.23; 47.12% females) from two age cohorts attending the 1st (52.41%) and 3rd (47.59%) year of high school. (Conditional) Multigroup latent growth curve analysis (LGCM) was conducted, and rank-order stability was assessed. Further, latent class growth analysis was conducted. Identification slightly increased across the medium-term and was stable across the short-term for both cohorts. Rank-order stability was high for both cohorts across both timescales. Initial levels of identification were negatively associated with daily fluctuations only for younger adolescents. Three identification groups emerged (i.e., low and decreasing, mid and stable, high and increasing) that differed in levels of fluctuation and age. Our results highlight the importance of examining the development of social identification. They indicate an association between both timescales and an effect of age.