Final answer:
According to Marcia's research, the identity status associated with healthy development is identity achievement, which involves both exploration and commitment to an identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Marcia's research on identity statuses, the identity status that is associated with healthy development is a. Identity achievement. This status reflects individuals who have undergone a period of exploration and have made a commitment to an identity or sense of self. In developing their identity, these individuals have considered various options and have committed to goals, beliefs, and values that are personal and meaningful to them. This achievement supports positive psychological health and well-being.
In contrast, identity foreclosure refers to individuals who have made a commitment without adequate exploration, often influenced by others such as parents. Identity moratorium represents a stage of exploration without having made a commitment yet, and identity diffusion is a status of individuals who neither explore nor commit, leading to confusion and a lack of direction.
The notion of identity achievement aligns with Erik Erikson’s developmental stages of life, specifically the stage of adolescence, whose main task is overcoming role confusion to achieve identity. Adolescents who successfully navigate this stage emerge with a strong sense of personal identity, whereas those who struggle may experience confusion and uncertainty about their future and beliefs.