Evaluation of adolescence self-identity graphs in terms of family functioning: An idiographic research

In the current study, a total of 97 adolescents studying in Grade 11 and having the age average of 17 completed Family Assessment Scale (FAS). In the sense of the data associated with the scale, self-identity graphics of 16 adolescents were analyzed by the use of data in repertoire grids technique. Those data were processed under all the subscales of FAS by taking into consideration the 8 adolescents accepting their families as functional while the other 8 perceiving them as dysfunctional. The sample of the study consists of 16 adolescents who study at Hasan Adalı Anatolian High School in the province of Çukurova, Adana and have only one sibling. Personal information of the participants was gathered by "Personal Information Form" prepared by the researcher. INGRID data analysis program which is a computer based analysis program was made use of for the data analysis processes. The research model was determined to be quantitative case analysis as it was idiographic (considering the internal validity). In the study the data was gathered by the use of repertoire grids, and concerning the self-identity graphics of the adolescents, those goals are aimed: (i) to determine the level of self-esteem by calculating the Euclidean distance between the self and ideal self on the self-identity graphics; (ii) to present the placements of the elements on the repertoire grid considering the self-identity graphics with x (self) and y (idea self) and 4 sections (acceptance, idealization, conflict, ambivalent) and lastly (iii) to determine the self integration's category by considering the distance of the self and ideal self materials of adolescents who both perceive their families as functional and dysfunctional, to the other elements. According to the study findings, it's found that self-esteem level of 5 adolescents who perceive their family as dysfunctional is lower while 3 adolescents have higher levels of self-esteem. Among those who perceive their families as functional, only 1 adolescent has lower level of self-esteem while 4 adolescents have medium level and 3 adolescents show higher level of self-esteem. Although there has never been a comparison among the study groups, the findings concerning the self-esteem suggest that family functionality may cause lower level of self-esteem while it does not have any effect on higher levels of self-esteem. Upon the review of findings concerning the placement of repertoire grid elements on the self- identity graphics, it's seen that the central elements of adolescents who perceive their families as functional (self, ideal-self, social self) and representative elements of family members (my mother, my father, my brother/sister) are mostly placed on acceptance section than the ones who perceive their family as dysfunctional. This result means that while defining their identities, the adolescents accepting their families as functional tend to perceive their selves (ideal self), social selves and family members as more similar to their current selves when compared with the ones who accept their families as dysfunctional. To the other findings about self integration styles which is obtained by assessing the distance of the materials in the repertoire grids to self and ideal self, it's seen that 5 of the adolescents accepting their family as functional have a healthy self integration while among the ones with dysfunctional view to their families only 3 adolescents have a healthy self integration. Additionally, another 5 adolescents perceiving their families as dysfunctional and 3 adolescents perceiving them as functional are determined to have vulnerable self integration. Keywords: Repertory grid technique, self-identity graphic, self-integration, self-esteem, family functioning.