Impact of Orphanhood on the Identity Formation of Adolescents in Taraba State

This study examines the impact of orphanhood on identity formation among adolescents in Taraba State, North East Nigeria. Orphanhood, whether due to parental death from illness, conflict, or other causes, disrupts the developmental scaffolding that biological families typically provide during the critical adolescent stage of identity exploration. Drawing on Erikson's psychosocial theory and Marcia's identity status model, this research employed a descriptive survey design and recruited 300 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from three categories: double orphans, single orphans, and non-orphan controls. Participants were drawn from orphanages, community-based care arrangements, and public secondary schools in Jalingo and Wukari. Identity formation was assessed using the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status. Results indicate that double orphans were significantly more likely to display identity diffusion compared to single orphans and non-orphans. Social support from significant caregivers, including teachers and houseparents, emerged as the strongest predictor of positive identity development among orphaned adolescents. The study highlights the inadequacy of institutional care models that prioritise physical provision over psychosocial development. Recommendations include the mandatory incorporation of identity-focused counselling programmes in all orphanage and community care programmes in Taraba State. Keywords: orphanhood, identity formation, adolescents, Taraba State, psychosocial development.