Identity Characteristics as Moderators of Discrepancy on Well-being

Abstract

Research finds that discrepancies between individuals’ self-views and their perceptions of how others view them decrease psychological well-being. According to identity theory, certain characteristics of identities may exacerbate the impact of discrepancy on well-being, while stress process theory suggests they may have the opposite, weakening effect. Using telephone survey data from a national probability sample of adults, I investigate whether several identity characteristics—subjective importance of an identity (prominence), extensiveness (interactional commitment) and intensiveness of ties (affective commitment) to others that are based on an identity, and the potential costs of failing to fulfill the role obligations of an identity (role-based commitment)—moderate associations between discrepancy and well-being (depressive symptoms and self-esteem) in two types of identities (obligatory and voluntary). I find that identity commitment buffers the effects of discrepancy in obligatory identities and exacerbates the effects of discrepancy in voluntary identities. Implications of these findings are discussed.