Relation of Generativity to Self-Concept among Middle-Aged Adults

Abstract

The present study investigated the relation of generativity to self-concept among 390 adults (143 males, 247 females) not receiving mental health services, and 41 clients (23 males, 18 females), through examining 3 objectives : (1) development of generativity within 3 psychosocial adult stages, (2) factor analysis of self-concept using data from the non-clients, and (3) self-concept affecting generativity vs. stagnation. The main results were as follows : (1) when the Inventory of Psychosocial Balance (IPB : Domino & Affonso, 1990) was administered to the adults, age x sex differences in scores on the developmental tasks revealed that generativity developed in relation to age ; (2) 3 factors of self concept - achievement, adjustment, and sociability -emerged and were interpreted ; (3) the subjects in the non-client group and the clients were classified into 2 mental health groups assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Substantially 2 self-concept factors - achievement and adjustment - affected development of generativity in the non-client group, where-as the factor of adjustment affected the (risky) client group. This result implies that a self-concept of achievement and adjustment is significantly related to the individual psychosocial development of middle-aged adults.