The existential suspension of the young-adult in times of liquid modernity. A differential analysis of identity uneasiness in precarious times

The present paper gives a contribution to the Italian psychology literature dealing with identity uneasiness of the young adult, which represents a clinically significant life-span phase especially if considered within the critical working situation that compels them to postpone life-markers which are the first signs of entering adultness. Those belonging to young adulthood seem uncompleted identities, hanging in between waiting to fulfil one's life projects and the lack of satisfactory responses from modern society. The present research aims to investigate the relationship between personal and social identity, identifying possible similarities and differences between a group of Italian employed adults and a group of unemployed adults. A group of 173 Italian young adults, aged between 27 and 34, were recruited to complete an Identifying Information Form constructed ad hoc, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, the Multi-Measure Agnostic Personality Scale, and the Identity Stage Resolution Index. Data showed that unemployed young adults have a lower adult and social identity sense than employed ones, who also present an elevated level of ego-strength. Furthermore, results underline that having a permanent employment, an elevated self-esteem, and good ego-strength, and internal locus of control are predictive of the adult identity among employed subjects. These young people's difficulties to securely enter a profession is a risk factor for establishing a social identity, as well as, for the mental health; they may even impact one's awareness, especially because the principle on which post-modern society is based is the demonstration of the value of one's own resources.