Relational identity in adolescence: Between loneliness and sense of personal uniqueness

The construction of identity is considered a main task in adolescence especially via the exploration/consolidation of relational interactions. Moreover, adolescents are focused on their personal perception of their place in the world, building on adults and peers’ feedbacks, personal attitude or fear of being alone and the ambiguous feelings about identification and belonging (e.i. personal uniqueness). This latter is an element that can makes adolescents particularly prone to behaviors strongly exploratory and / or at risk. It is, therefore, particularly relevant to examine the novelties that intervene in the relational contexts of adolescents - relationships mediated by digital tools (social-network) - to understand their connections with the processes of understanding and defining themselves. The research explored, through a subject-based study, the relationship between identity functions, sense of personal uniqueness, traditional/virtual relational experiences, and perceived loneliness, in order to define risk profiles and identify intervention strategies. Participants were 250 students attending the last two years of high school (age m.: 16.5). The measures used were: Functions of Identity; Adolescent Personal Uniqueness Scale; Louvain Loneliness Scale for Children and Adolescents; Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2. The analysis shows significant associations between the dimensions examined and an interrelationship between identity functions, the perception of loneliness by significant others and problematic use of the internet.