Swedish 18-year-oldsʹ identity formation: Associations with feelings about appearance and internalization of body ideals

The aim of this study with Swedish 18-year-olds (N = 714, 55.2% women) was to investigate identity formation in relation to body-esteem and body ideal internalization. These are all important aspects of adolescentsʹ development, but little is known about how they are related. This study indicates that late adolescentsʹ identity formation, body-esteem, and body ideal internalizations are related. Womenʹs interpersonal identity commitments and explorations were related to more positive thoughts about how others evaluate their appearance. Their interpersonal identity explorations were also related to more internalization of societal body ideals. For men, stronger interpersonal identity commitments were related to more positive own evaluations about their appearance. The results also showed that compared to men, women explored identity issues more, had poorer body-esteem, and had internalized body ideals more.