The Relationship Between Self-Differentiation and Identity Dimensions with Students’ Political and Social Attitudes: The Mediating Role of Personality Traits

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of personality traits in the relationships of self-differentiation and identity dimensions with university students’ political and social attitudes. This descriptive-correlational study employed path analysis. The statistical population consisted of students at the Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, during the 2023–2024 academic year, from whom 300 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Self-Differentiation Questionnaire, Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status, NEO Five-Factor Inventory, Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale, and Harrison Social Orientation Scale. Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling were conducted using SPSS-24 and AMOS-24. Self-differentiation had no significant direct effect on political or social attitudes, whereas achieved identity exerted a significant direct effect on political attitude, and achieved, moratorium, and foreclosure identity statuses significantly predicted social attitude. Openness to Experience significantly mediated the relationship of self-differentiation with political attitude (β=-0.045) and social attitude (β=0.046), while Conscientiousness mediated the relationship between self-differentiation and social attitude (β=0.061). Openness to Experience also significantly mediated the relationships between all identity dimensions and both political and social attitudes. Agreeableness mediated selected pathways from identity statuses to political attitude, whereas Neuroticism and Conscientiousness mediated selected pathways from identity statuses to social attitude. The final structural model demonstrated acceptable fit indices (χ²/df=2.89, CFI=0.94, GFI=0.93, TLI=0.95, RMSEA=0.072). Personality traits, particularly Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness, constitute important mechanisms through which self-differentiation and identity statuses are associated with students’ political and social attitudes. The findings underscore the importance of cognitive flexibility and internal organization in explaining the development of socio-political orientations among university students.