Comparative study of university students' identity formation: A contextual study

  Introduction: The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between effect of university as a mezzo-contextual factor on identity formation in young females.   Method: Two groups of 96 female freshman (18 and 19 years) and senior (23 and 24 years) students were selected using cluster sampling method, as well as two control groups (same range of age) with no higher education (n=51 and n=60) using available sampling method. Participants were completed the EOM-EIS2. Pair wise comparisons were made using chi-square analysis.   Results: Significant differences were evident between senior students and their control groups in interpersonal level and between freshman and senior students in both ideational and interpersonal levels whereas no significant difference was observed between freshmen and their control group. A higher level of frequency was evident in all groups for moratorium status than diffusion, foreclosure and achievement statuses. Conclusion: Results indicate a positive relationship effect between the university contexture and the ideational and interpersonal identity formation. However, this effect relationship was more dominant in interpersonal level than ideational. People in the range of 18 to 24 tend to be in moratorium status and progress of identity achievement is very slow.