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Temporal distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Letter writing with future self can mitigate negative affect
Yuta Chishima1, I-Ting Huai-Ching Liu2, Anne E Wilson1
1Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Applied Psychology. Health and Well-Being
|February 17, 2021
Summary
Writing letters to your future self can reduce distress during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This psychological strategy helps manage negative emotions by broadening your temporal perspective.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Mental Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic poses significant threats to both physical and psychological well-being.
- Mental distress is a growing concern during global health crises.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if a broadened temporal perspective can alleviate mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To test a letter-writing intervention designed to connect individuals with their future selves.
Main Methods:
- An online experiment was conducted with 738 Japanese participants.
- Participants were randomly assigned to write a letter to their future self, from their future self, or a control condition.
- The intervention involved a letter-writing manipulation focused on future self-connection.
Main Results:
- Both letter-writing conditions led to an immediate decrease in negative affect and an increase in positive affect compared to the control group.
- The positive effects of the intervention were mediated by increased temporal distancing from the current situation.
- Letter writing to a future self effectively reduced negative emotions.
Conclusions:
- Letter writing to one's future self is an effective method for broadening temporal perspective.
- This intervention offers a practical strategy for regulating negative affect during stressful periods like the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Connecting with future selves can enhance psychological resilience.
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