Journal of Identity and Migration Studies, cilt.18, sa.1, ss.2-21, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)
The first aim of the study is to compare whether there is a difference in the identity status of Germans of Turkish origin compared to native Germans. The second aim of the study was to examine the relationship between identity status and psychological symptoms and frequency of substance use. 159 Germans of Turkish origin and 150 native Germans participated in the study. SCL-90R scale, Expanded Objective Ego Identity Statuses Scale and Substance Use Frequency Scale were used in the study. Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to compare discrete variables. Compliance of continuous variables with normal distribution was evaluated by Kolmogorov Smirnov test. Intergroup comparisons of continuous variables were made with Mann Whitney U test. The linear relationship between the variables was evaluated by Spearman correlation test. In the study, the "achievement" identity status score was statistically significantly higher in the native German group, and the "foreclosure" and "diffusion" identity status scores were statistically significantly higher in the German group of Turkish origin. It was concluded that individuals in the achievement identity status in the native German group used substances at least once in their lives. On the other hand, one of the most striking results of this study is that although the foreclosure and diffusion identity status scores of Germans of Turkish origin were higher than the other group, no significant relationship was found with substance use. When the scores of the Germans of Turkish origin and native German groups on the SCL-90 scale were compared, all psychological symptoms except the "Somatisation" symptom were higher in the German group of Turkish origin than in the native German group.