Age Differences in Self-Continuity: Converging Evidence and Directions for Future Research.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Life-span development is linked to time perception and temporal construals.
• Age-related differences in global time horizons are known, but other temporal construals are less understood.
• Self-continuity, the perceived link between present, past, and future selves, is a key aspect of temporal construal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine developmental trajectories of self-continuity across the life span.
• To review evidence for age-related increases in self-continuity.
• To explore direct assessments of age differences in self-continuity.

Main Methods:

• Review of life-span developmental literature.
• Analysis of indirect evidence for age-related self-continuity.
• Examination of recent studies directly assessing age differences in self-continuity.

Main Results:

• Convergent research streams suggest age-related increases in self-continuity.
• Recent studies directly assess age differences, exploring explicit/implicit measures and past/future symmetry.
• Self-continuity appears distinct from other aspects of time perception.

Conclusions:

• Advancing age is associated with increased self-continuity.
• Understanding age differences in self-continuity has practical implications for time management, financial planning, and medical decisions.
• Further research is needed to address theoretical questions regarding self-continuity development.