Thomas, Bethany F (2024) Investigating the Relationship Between Identity Formation, Self-Esteem, Connectedness and Prosocial Behaviour Among Adolescent Boys. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical period of development that includes the formation of an identity, and is the crucial step between childhood and becoming an adult. When adolescents leave school, it is anticipated that they enter into society and act prosocially towards others. As adolescents spend most of their time in school, and are heavily influenced by their peers at this stage, it is important to find ways to help adolescents develop a coherent identity, form positive connections and encourage prosocial behaviour. Helping adolescents develop in these areas will have positive effects and benefit adolescents during school years, but also instil positive behaviour that persists into adulthood. The present study examined the relationship between identity formation, self-esteem, connectedness and prosocial behaviour. A mediator model was used to investigate if connectedness to peers, teachers and the school influenced the relationship between self-esteem and identity formation combined into a composite predictor, and prosocial behaviour. The sample included adolescent males in grades 7-12 at a private, all male school in Toowoomba, who completed an online survey. The survey included a total of 117 items and 12 subsections, with 45 items and 4 subsections pertaining to this research specifically. Correlation analysis and various types of regression analysis (mediation and hierarchical) were used to analyse the data. The findings indicate a small, yet significant indirect effect, suggesting that connectedness mediates the relationship between the composite predictor and prosocial behaviour. Additionally, there was a small and significant direct effect, and a small and significant total effect based on the composite predictor (self-esteem by identity formation) and prosocial behaviour, and the mediator connectedness. These findings highlight the interconnected nature of these developmental constructs and enhance our understanding of adolescent identity formation, which can assist to inform educational practices and facilitate ways to foster adolescent identity and encourage prosocial behaviour among adolescents in a school environment. Furthermore, interventions aimed at strengthening connectedness within social networks in school settings may have significant and long reaching effects on identity formation, self-esteem and prosocial 5 behaviour.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Professor Fein, Erich |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Psychology) |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jan 2026 05:43 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jan 2026 05:43 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | connectedness, identity formation, prosocial behaviour, self-esteem |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53120 |
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