Emerging adulthood is an important period for managing the pressing developmental tasks of identity exploration and formation. Affiliation with a religion can inform how emerging adults understand themselves and commit to aspects of their identity, which may have implications for well-being. The present studies tested the ways in which identification with and commitment to Christianity inform identity development (i.e., exploration and commitment) and well-being (i.e., positive affect, negative affect, life satisfaction) among two samples of central U.S. college adults, both concurrently (Studies 1 and 2) and with a 2-month follow-up (Study 2 only). Across studies, self-identification as a Christian and greater commitment to Christianity were positively associated with identity exploration and subjective well-being. Further, indirect effects were supported between Christian affiliation and well-being, given differences in identity exploration. The current studies motivate a continued focus on social identities as contributors to adjustment in emerging adulthood.

进入成年期是管理身份探索和形成的紧迫发展任务的重要时期。与宗教的联系可以告知新兴成年人如何理解自己并致力于其身份的各个方面，这可能对幸福产生影响。目前的研究测试了美国中部大学成人的两个样本中对基督教的认同和承诺对身份发展（即探索和承诺）和幸福感（即积极影响、消极影响、生活满意度）的影响方式。同时（研究 1 和 2）和 2 个月的随访（仅研究 2）。在所有研究中，作为基督徒的自我认同和对基督教的更大承诺与身份探索和主观幸福感呈正相关。更多，考虑到身份探索的差异，基督徒归属感和幸福感之间存在间接影响。当前的研究促使人们继续关注社会身份，将其作为新兴成年期调整的贡献者。