Life narratives are unique autobiographical stories that incorporate the reconstructed past, the perceived present, and the imagined future into a coherent identity providing meaning, unity and purpose (McAdams, 2001). They reveal how individuals make sense of the themselves and their experiences. Narrative identity is closely linked to well-being (Adler et al., 2016; McLean et al., 2020). However, existing research has hardly addressed how changes in narrative identity are associated with changes in well-being. This is unfortunate, as changes in narrative identity are common during adolescence and young adulthood (Dunlop et al., 2016; Köber & Habermas, 2017; McLean, 2017). Limited research suggests that changes in narrative identity are meaningful for well-being of individuals undergoing psychological treatment (Adler, 2012; Adler & Hershfield, 2012; Pol et al., 2023), but these studies rely on small clinical samples. Moreover, existing literature has predominantly focused on the process of identity and neglected its content (De Moor et al., 2023; Johnson et al., 2022). This is a significant gap, as identity process and content are interrelated (Galliher et al., 2017; McLean et al., 2016). The current 3-Wave longitudinal study aims to extend the limited research on the association between changes in narrative identity and well-being by studying both identity processes and content in a sample of 206 Dutch adolescents. Written turning point narratives collected at each wave were coded for agency (Adler et al., 2008) and redemption (McAdams, 1999), while subjective well-being was measured with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985). Associations between changes in well-being and changes in narrative agency and redemption were assessed using Simultaneous Latent Dual Difference Score Models (Newsom, 2015). Identity content was analyzed using reflective thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2021). The results will be presented during the conference.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted adolescents’ lives. During its acute phases, adolescents experienced significant disruptions in multiple life domains, leading to rising amounts of stress (Dewa et al., 2024). However, little data is available on how long these changes persisted once the acute phase of the pandemic was over. Even less is known on how the pandemic has affected personal identity development, a key developmental task of adolescence and an important protective factor for their well-being (Branje, 2022). The present study aimed to map out longitudinal trajectories of four dimensions of COVID-related stress (worry about personal safety, worry about others’ safety, disruption to family functioning, and disruption to social activities) in a sample of 1,547 Italian adolescents (Mage=15.74, SDage=1.20, 48% male), attending the 1st or 3rd year of upper secondary school, drawn from the ongoing IDENTITIES project. Data on COVID-related stress and personal identity development according to the three-dimensional process model (Crocetti et al., 2008) was gathered three times a year from January 2022 to January 2024, for a total of 7 waves. Latent Growth Curve Analyses demonstrated a significant reduction in COVID-related stress over the course of the study period. While girls initially reported significantly higher stress levels, by 2024 their scores became more similar to those of boys. No differences were found between 1st and 3rd year students. Additionally, results of Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models highlighted significant bidirectional effects between COVID-related stress and identity processes in both the interpersonal and educational domains, which persisted even in the later phases of the study. In summary, study results show that levels of COVID-related stress have gone down with the winding down of the pandemic, and that its variations over the entire course of the study period are intertwined with identity development processes.

The term quarter-life crisis refers to the developmental crisis experienced during early adulthood and may occur in relation to career, romantic relationships, or family dynamics. In addition to age spesific developmental tasks and challenges, Turkish emerging adults has to deal with economic instability, higher rates of NEETs, financial uncertainty, and traumatic affects of recent earthquake. These may contribute to higher rates of quarter-life crisis. This study aims to examine self-reported quarter-life crisis levels among Turkish emerging adults and differences by demographic factors.

The study included 238 Turkish emerging adults, comprising 74 males (31%) and 163 females (69%). Data were collected using the Developmental Crisis Questionnaire-12 (DCQ-12) and a demographic information form. Results showed that 36% of the participants scored 42 or above on the DCQ-12, indicating that they were experiencing a crisis. Multi-way ANOVA results revealed no significant differences in crisis levels based on age, residency, parenting style, or working status. However, a significant difference was found based on gender (F_{(1, 227)} = 6.5, p < .05), with a small effect size (η² = .03). Female participants (x̄ = 40.24) reported significantly higher crisis levels than male participants (x̄ = 37.99).

This study sheds light on the characteristics of the quarter-life crisis within the Turkish context. Notably a considerable proportion of the sample scored above the cut-off point, highlighting the challenges of emerging adulthood. Additionally, the results indicate that females experience higher crisis levels, suggesting that gender plays a significant role in shaping the intensity of this developmental crisis in Türkiye. Future research could explore other factors influencing the nature of the crisis. The findings of this study may have implications for intervention programs aimed at enhancing well-being and resilience during emerging adulthood.

*This presentation is supported by TÜBİTAK 2224-A Grant Program for participation in scientific meetings abroad.

Parenting stress (i.e., stress caused by raising children, expressed through parents’ negative feelings towards themselves and their children), has been associated with negative outcomes for both parents and children. Parents’ personality traits may affect their exposure and reaction to stressors in parenting, subsequently resulting in different levels of perceived parenting stress. Despite many studies having confirmed the association between personality and parenting stress, effect sizes differ across studies. In addition, the association has been examined in varying target groups (e.g., parents with mental disabilities, parents of children with physical or mental disabilities, etc.). Therefore, the current study conducted a meta-analysis to systematically examine the association between parenting stress and big-five personality traits, as well as the possible moderators of these associations.

Following a pre-registered design (PROSPERO CRD42024562812), the current study searched in 4 databases (i.e., Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO) and conducted two rounds of screening (abstract screening and full-text screening). 74 articles were included in the current meta-analysis for the full coding process. A three-level random-effects model will be conducted with the metafor package in R to examine the relation between parenting stress and each of the five personality traits. The expected results are: extraversion, agreeableness, consciousness, and openness will have a negative correlation with parenting stress, whereas neuroticism will have a positive correlation with parenting stress. If there is significant heterogeneity, various moderators (gender of parents, age of parents and children, family risk factors, cultural background, methodological moderators) will be included in the analysis. We expect that the association between personality and parenting stress will be stronger in mothers than in fathers, in younger parents than in older parents, in families with risk factors than in families without risk factors, and in collectivistic cultures than in individualistic cultures. Results will be presented at the conference.

Normatively, transitions to first-time coparenthood demand considerable adjustment of partners (Cowan & Cowan, 2000), and significant declines in marital satisfaction surface after the birth of a first child (Mitnick et al., 2009). Historically, most studies have enrolled married, white, European heritage families; comparatively less is known about relationship trajectories of unmarried African heritage coparents. This study examined changes in positive and negative relationship dynamics among such coparents during the parenthood transition, utilizing both self-report and observational indices. We also explored effects of a prenatal coparenting intervention on relational changes at 3 and 12 months postpartum. A randomized controlled trial enrolled 136 unmarried, lower-income, African American coparents prenatally (McHale et al., 2022a, 2022b). following them to 3 and 12 months postpartum. At each timepoint coparents completed a Positive and Negative Quality in Relationship Scale (PANQIRS; Mattson, Paldino, & Matthew, 2007), and recorded conflict discussions that were analyzed using a System for Coding Interactions in Dyads (SCID; Malik & Lindahl, 2000). An analogous decline in relationship quality to that documented among married European heritage families was seen on both self-report and observed interactions. However, declines were less pronounced among coparents who received the intervention, suggesting a protective effect on relationship dynamics. Findings indicate that a prenatal coparenting intervention for unmarried African American coparents can mitigate relationship deterioration and foster better adaptation during the critical parenthood transition.