The importance of the socio-historical context: similarities and differences in identity development and psychological adjustment across two cohorts of Spanish college emerging adults

Identity is a psychosocial construct shaped by the generational context, reflecting culturally and historically specific patterns of self-development. This study explores and compares the identity development and psychological adjustment of two generations of emerging adults. The total sample comprised 2,819 college students (38% men, 62% women) from two cohorts surveyed: Ch1 (2015), of 1,301 emerging adults, 40.9% men, 59.1% women; M age = 20.06, SD = 2.03 and Ch2 (2020, which coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic), of 1,518 participants, 35.6% men, 64.4% women; M age = 20.48, SD = 2.48. The two cohorts show distinct patterns in commitment making , identification with commitment , and ruminative exploration . Ch2 exhibited lower levels on both commitment dimensions, alongside heightened ruminative exploration . Concurrently, Ch2 reported reduced wellbeing and increased psychological distress relative to Ch1. Moreover, the associations between identity dimensions and indicators of psychological adjustment were especially pronounced among men and within Ch2. The findings highlight how the interplay of identity development and psychosocial adjustment works in different time periods. It also underlines the need for gender perspective-focused research and intervention programs designed to foster identity consolidation during emerging adulthood during crisis times.