According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the most important task during adolescence is identity construction. Based on this assertion, this study, undertaken with 25 high school students (15 to 17 years old), compared the Groningen Identity Development Scale (GIDS), a identity evolution scale, with the Youth Self-Report (YSR), a screening mental problems checklist. Most of the teenagers were on two initial identity phases: diffusion and foreclosure. A significant relationship between low commitment and behavior problems was also found.
adolescence; identity; behavior problems
