The Resilience and Coping Strategies in Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Adolescents and Identity Development

Abstract

Migration-related risk factors may impact the association between coping strategies, resilience, and identity development, one of the fundamental developmental tasks in adolescence. We examined the relationship between resilience and coping strategies in immigrant and non-immigrant adolescents' identity development. On a sample of Turkish adolescents (n = 399, 50.9% girls), we conducted six hierarchical regression models to predict identity dimensions from resilience and coping strategies. For both immigrants and non-immigrants, seeking social support predicted a more mature and successful identity while avoidance predicted less reconsideration of commitment. For non-immigrants, seeking social support and avoidance was associated with in-depth exploration whereas for immigrants, only seeking social support was linked to in-depth exploration. Additionally, resilience predicted a successful identity for immigrants. Results were discussed considering migration-related difficulties