New Chapter Publication! Digital Identity Congruence and Adolescent Well-Being
- Sep 15, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
We are pleased to share a recent publication exploring digital identity congruence and adolescent well-being!
The chapter, “‘Digital Identity Congruence’: Exploring the Importance of Congruent Online Identities for Adolescents,” examines how alignment between an individual’s authentic self and online persona is critical for adolescent development and mental health. Social media, gaming, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and other digital environments are important spaces for youth identity exploration, expression, and development and pose significant opportunities and risks.
Digital identity congruence can serve as a protective factor for adolescent well-being. When online and offline identities feel misaligned, adolescents may experience identity confusion, low self-esteem, or psychological distress. However, digital spaces that support authenticity, self-awareness, and healthy identity expression can contribute to more positive developmental outcomes.
The chapter highlights key areas of intervention, including positive youth development (PYD) approaches, supportive relationships, the need for youth to foster self-awareness and self-acceptance, and technology design and policy that prioritize health promotion and authentic self-expression.
Citation: Laffier, J., & Westley, M. (2025). ‘Digital Identity Congruence’: Exploring the importance of congruent online identities for adolescents. In L. O. Nweke (Ed.), Online identity: Recent studies and insights. IntechOpen. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.1012336
