European Identity as a Social Identity: The Stability of European Identity Among Different Age Groups

European identity is usually referred to as a social identity, reflecting a feeling of belonging to the EU community. However, it should be tested whether this theoretical assumption about the concept of European identity is empirically confirmed. One way to examine whether European identity is a social identity is testing the hypothesis that the consolidation of a European identity takes place within adolescence, as is expected for social identities. To study this, a longitudinal research design is needed where two groups of respondents are compared: adolescents and adults. The Parent-Child Socialization Study (PCSS 2012-2013) can be used to answer this question. Respondents were questioned about the strength of their attachment (if any) with the EU and survey items probed about which definition of European citizenship they hold. Questions were included probing about both civic and cultural aspects of European citizenship one can identify with.