Scarth, Adam (2024) Exploring Identity Development and Leadership Behaviours in Adolescent Boys: The Moderating Role of Motivational Traits. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical period for identity formation and development with significant implications for later life outcomes. While identity theories have been used to understand the processes of identity commitment and exploration in adolescents, there is virtually no research on individual differences related to the motivation of adolescents to engage in processes of identity commitment and exploration. This study investigates how identity development relates to leadership in adolescent males and examines the mediating role that personality may play. We surveyed 441 male students from Toowoomba Grammar School (TGS) using the Dimensions of Identity Development (DIDS) scale to measure identity development, the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (SLPI) scale to measure leadership, and the personality traits of conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness to experience from the Five Factor Model of personality (FFM). Correlation analysis found significant relationships between identity development and leadership, identity development and conscientiousness. A composite trait of goal propensity, that encompasses the combination of extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience also produced a significant relationship with identity development. Moderation analysis found that conscientiousness had a non-significant moderating effect on the identity development leadership relationship, while goal propensity had a significant moderating effect on identity development and leadership. The results suggest that identity development and leadership behaviours, and in particular the processes of identity commitment and exploration, are closely related, and personality plays some role in identity-related approach behaviour outcomes relating to leadership. These findings suggest that the psychology of the individual should not be neglected in a school setting.
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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: | Associate Professor Dr Fein, Erich |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jan 2026 01:04 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jan 2026 01:04 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | identity development, leadership, personality, motivation. |
| 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/53114 |
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