The research, led by Meva Demir Kaya of Atatürk University together with Hüsna Albayrak Yalçın of the Turkish National Police Academy, Figen Çok of Başkent University, and identity-development specialist Koen Luyckx of KU Leuven, stands out for a methodological reason that is rarer than it should be in this literature. Rather than relying solely on the self-reports of young people, the team recruited both generations. In total, 553 Turkish university students and 1,106 of their parents took part in the cross-sectional study, allowing the researchers to compare how children and parents each perceive the parent–child relationship and to test whether both perspectives predict the young adults’ identity outcomes.

The study was designed around three questions. First, does identity formation differ between emerging adults who live with their parents and those who live apart? Second, do the relationships that young adults perceive with their mothers and fathers predict how their identities are developing? Third, and crucially, do the parents’ own perceptions of those same relationships also predict identity formation in their children? This third question is what gives the study its multi-informant edge. In much of the existing research, the parent’s voice is missing entirely, leaving open the possibility that findings reflect only how young adults choose to portray their families.

To measure identity, the researchers used the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale, an instrument grounded in contemporary models that treat identity formation as a dynamic process rather than a single achieved endpoint. This framework distinguishes between adaptive dimensions, such as exploring one’s options and committing to choices, and maladaptive ones, such as ruminating endlessly about alternatives or avoiding the question of who one is altogether. The team also administered Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage Inventory, tapping the broader psychosocial maturity associated with Erik Erikson’s stage theory, in which identity versus role confusion is the defining crisis of adolescence and young adulthood. Relationships with parents were assessed with the Parent–Adult Relationship Questionnaire, adapted for use with adult offspring.

The first finding may surprise readers who assume that flying the nest is a psychological prerequisite for growing up. Whether the university students lived with their parents or separately made no measurable difference to their identity formation. In Turkey, where multigenerational households remain common and many students attend universities in their home cities, this null result carries real weight. It suggests that physical co-residence, in itself, neither hinders the exploration and commitment processes that build an identity nor accelerates them. What matters, the data indicate, is not the shared roof but the quality of the relationship beneath it.

That quality was examined through two structural equation models, a statistical technique that allows researchers to test networks of hypothesized relationships among variables simultaneously rather than one correlation at a time. In the first model, built from the emerging adults’ own reports, characteristics of the relationship with the mother predicted several features of identity formation, while the relationship with the father predicted fewer. In the second model, constructed from the parents’ reports, the pattern repeated: mothers’ perceptions of their relationship with their adult children predicted multiple aspects of identity development, whereas fathers’ perceptions predicted only a few. The convergence across informants strengthens the case that the mother–child bond occupies a privileged position during this developmental window, at least in this Turkish sample.

Why would mothers loom larger than fathers in the identity work of emerging adulthood? The authors’ findings are consistent with a broader body of developmental research showing that mothers in many cultures, including collectivistic ones, tend to remain the primary emotional confidants as children grow, engaging in the kind of sustained, exploratory dialogue in which young people rehearse values, career ambitions, and beliefs. Fathers, meanwhile, may function more as figures of authority or material support, roles that matter for well-being but may be less directly entangled with the day-to-day negotiation of identity. The multi-informant design makes this asymmetry harder to dismiss as a reporting artifact, since both the children and the parents themselves pointed in the same direction.

The study also exemplifies a technical trend in developmental science: the move toward multi-informant, multi-method designs as a safeguard against shared-method variance. When a single person reports both the predictor and the outcome, correlations can be inflated by that person’s overall mood, self-presentation style, or response tendencies. By collecting data from two family members and analyzing them in parallel path models, the researchers could check whether the same relational dynamics predicted identity outcomes regardless of who was doing the reporting. The team reported standard diagnostics for their models, including checks for multicollinearity through variance inflation factors and evaluation of established fit indices, reflecting the analytical conventions of contemporary structural equation modeling.

Conducted across seven Turkish universities with ethical approval from Atatürk University and funding from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey through its Career Development Program, the project also speaks to a cultural question that has long hovered over developmental psychology: how much of the emerging adulthood framework, built largely on Western samples, travels to other societies? The Turkish context is a compelling test case. It combines strong family obligations and relatively late departure from the parental home with rapid urbanization, expanding university enrollment, and generational shifts in values. Finding that co-residence is developmentally neutral, while relationship quality with parents, especially mothers, is meaningfully linked to identity processes, suggests that the underlying psychological mechanisms of this life stage may be more universal than the living arrangements that surround them.

As with any cross-sectional study, the design captures a single moment in time, so the direction of influence cannot be pinned down with certainty; it is equally plausible that young adults who are further along in forming their identities experience warmer, more open relationships with their parents. Longitudinal follow-ups would be needed to disentangle cause from consequence. Still, the practical implications are inviting. For families navigating the twenties together, the message is that staying under the same roof is neither a threat nor a shortcut. What counts is cultivating a relationship, particularly between mothers and their emerging adult children, in which exploration is supported rather than foreclosed, and in which both generations feel heard as the young person assembles an answer to the oldest question in psychology: who am I?

Subject of Research: The role of parent–child relationships in identity formation among Turkish emerging adults

Article Title: Identity formation and relationships with parents in Turkish emerging adults: a multi-informant examination

Article References: Demir Kaya, M., Yalçın, H. A., Çok, F., & Luyckx, K. (2026). Identity formation and relationships with parents in Turkish emerging adults: a multi-informant examination. BMC Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05686-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-05686-w

Keywords: emerging adulthood, identity formation, parent-child relationship, developmental psychology, multi-informant method, Turkish university students, mother-child bond, structural equation modeling, Erikson psychosocial stages, co-residence, BMC Psychology, family relationships

Career sustainability, a term that combines notions of endurance, adaptability, and fulfillment in professional life, has, until recently, lacked a robust, universally accepted measurement tool. Söner and Duru’s work addresses this unmet need by operationalizing multiple dimensions that contribute to an individual’s ability to sustain their career without succumbing to burnout, job dissatisfaction, or career stagnation. University students, poised at the cusp of their professional lives, serve as an ideal demographic to test and calibrate such instruments, propelling the scale’s relevance for career counseling, human resource development, and educational programming.

The scale development process began with an extensive literature review incorporating multidisciplinary insights from psychology, organizational behavior, and vocational studies. The authors meticulously distilled factors commonly associated with career longevity, including psychological resilience, skill adaptability, work-life integration, and value alignment. Leveraging both qualitative and quantitative methods, the researchers generated a comprehensive item pool catering to the nuanced realities of contemporary career development, particularly within the Turkish cultural and educational context. This hybrid approach ensured that the scale captured not just generic career attributes but also culturally embedded perceptions that influence sustainable employment.

Central to the study’s methodology was the validation phase involving a diverse cohort of Turkish university students across various academic disciplines. Through rigorous psychometric analyses—such as exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses—the researchers fine-tuned the scale, confirming its structural validity and internal consistency. The statistical robustness demonstrated by their results underscores the scale’s potential utility in both research and applied career development settings. Importantly, the scale’s psychometric properties suggest it can discern subtle variations in career sustainability components, allowing for personalized career guidance interventions.

A particularly compelling aspect of the research is its nuanced measurement of psychological constructs associated with career sustainability. Constructs such as career adaptability—the ability to anticipate and respond flexibly to changing work environments—and intrinsic motivation were quantified with precise items. Incorporating these psychological variables is a valuable departure from traditional economic or purely skill-based indicators of career success, reflecting an evolving understanding that emotional and cognitive resources are integral to long-term career maintenance. This paradigm shift is especially pertinent given increasing automation, gig economies, and the demand for lifelong learning in the modern workforce.

The Turkish university student sample, while specific, offers important insights given Turkey’s unique position as a cultural and economic bridge between Europe and Asia. The country’s labor market is characterized by a mix of traditional employment practices and rapid modernization, presenting a rich context for exploring how young adults conceptualize and prepare for career sustainability. Sociocultural factors, such as family influence, societal expectations, and emerging gender roles, also interplay with individual aspirations and resilience, which the scale addresses indirectly through its comprehensive item generation process.

Another innovative element of this research is its potential applicability beyond academia. Human resources professionals and career counselors can harness the Career Sustainability Scale to identify strengths and vulnerabilities in clients’ career development trajectories, paving the way for more targeted interventions. Organizations could also deploy it as part of employee development programs to cultivate sustainable workforces better equipped to navigate uncertainty and evolve continuously. By embedding such a scale into talent management processes, businesses could proactively mitigate risks related to turnover, burnout, and skill obsolescence.

The research also provides empirical evidence for integrating sustainability thinking into career counseling curricula within universities. Educators tasked with preparing students for future careers can use the scale’s insights to emphasize resilience-building, adaptability, and value-based career decision-making, ensuring graduates are not only employable but also prepared to thrive sustainably. This educational direction aligns with global shifts toward holistic student development, encompassing emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and proactive career management strategies.

Söner and Duru further discuss the broader implications of defining and measuring career sustainability as an interdisciplinary concern that transcends traditional career psychology boundaries. Linking sustainability discourse commonly associated with environmental and organizational studies to individual careers invites a conceptual synthesis that recognizes careers as living systems requiring periodic renewal and adaptation. This fresh framing holds potential for future research exploring the interplay between personal agency, organizational support, and socio-economic structures in sustaining meaningful work over time.

One particularly laudable aspect of the study is its transparent approach to instrument creation. The authors have made detailed methodological appendices and data available, encouraging replication and cross-cultural validation studies. Such openness is critical for advancing cumulative knowledge in career development research and for ensuring that the Career Sustainability Scale can be adapted for diverse populations under different labor market conditions. This framework could be especially beneficial in emerging economies or regions undergoing rapid socio-economic transformation.

Moreover, the researchers highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic—and the resulting upheavals in employment practices—underscore the urgent need for tools that can monitor and enhance career sustainability. The pandemic dramatically accelerated trends toward remote work, digital upskilling, and precarious employment, making sustainable career development both a challenge and a necessity. Tools like the Career Sustainability Scale facilitate timely assessments of individuals’ readiness and capacity to navigate such shifts, providing actionable data to stakeholders ranging from policymakers to educators and employers.

In conclusion, Söner and Duru’s contribution extends well beyond a simple questionnaire. Their Career Sustainability Scale represents a sophisticated, empirically validated construct that captures the multifaceted nature of sustaining careers over time. By illuminating key factors that enable individuals to remain resilient, adaptable, and engaged within their professional trajectories, this research lays the foundation for innovative approaches to career development suited for the twenty-first century’s volatility. As labor markets continue to evolve unpredictably, such instruments become indispensable in equipping individuals—and societies—to meet future career challenges proactively.

The study’s publication in BMC Psychology signals the growing recognition of career sustainability as an essential psychological and social construct, worthy of rigorous scientific inquiry. Its implications resonate across multiple domains—from theoretical research and education to human resources and policy-making. Ultimately, the Career Sustainability Scale offers a beacon of hope and a practical toolkit for fostering enduring career success in an uncertain world.

Subject of Research:
Career sustainability and its measurement through a validated scale developed with Turkish university students.

Article Title:
Developing and Validating Career Sustainability Scale: Sample of Turkish University Students

Article References:
Söner, O., Duru, H. Developing and validating career sustainability scale: sample of Turkish university students. BMC Psychol 13, 954 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03346-z

Image Credits:
AI Generated