Temporal Self-Continuity in response to COVID-19

The present study examined whether the average levels and the temporal extension of self-continuity varied over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three demographically matched adult life-span samples (n = 223 each) were gathered in the U.S. in fall 2016, early summer 2020, and winter 2022/23. Participants rated their self-continuity 1/5/10 years into the past and future. Multi-level analyses examined the effects of temporal distance, past/future direction, and assessment time and explored the role of demographic covariates.
Average self-continuity did not differ across assessments, but compared to pre-pandemic times, mid-pandemic self-continuity ratings were more similar across past and future and across close and distant time points, even after controlling for demographic factors. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Manuscript of this project is currently under review.