Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between family functioning and the identity statues in high school boys. 330 high school students from five different education zones in Isfahan, Iran were randomly selected with cluster sampling. Questionnaire was designed to measure the levels of family function and identity status. These comprise ‘Extended Version of the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOMEIS-2)’ and ‘Family Functioning Scale’. A question on factors that influence identity statues was formulated. Data were analyzed by hierarchy regression. The results showed that there are significant relationships between sub-domains family function and identity status. Democratic family style, family idealization and cohesion could predict foreclosure statues; family sociability, religious orientation and family idealization could predict achievement statues; democratic family style and family organization could predict moratorium statues and family organization, religious orientation and authoritarian family style could predict diffusion statues. These findings show that to have adolescents with achievement identity, parents should try to have a family with family sociability, religious orientation and family organization among other sub-domains of family functions.

Key words: Identity status, family function.