COVID-Related Perceptions of the Future and Purpose in Life Among Older Canadian Women.

Global events that prime thoughts of proximity to death (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic) can compress individuals' perceptions of future time horizons, and previous studies have found that compressed time horizons can be beneficial for older adults' well-being. However, findings from recent studies are mixed, and studies of well-being during the early months of COVID-19 show that older adults have fared comparatively well. The current study examines relationships between Future Time Perspective (FTP), COVID-19 impact, and purpose in life (PIL) among older Canadian women (N = 190; ages 59+). We expected that total FTP would be positively associated with PIL but that FTP subscales would be associated with PIL in different ways; COVID-19 impact would not be associated with PIL, but COVID-19 impact would moderate the FTP-PIL relationship. We found partial support for these hypotheses, as well as prevalence of social connection themes in open-ended question responses regarding COVID-19 impact.

Future Time Perspective and Psychological Well-Being for Older Canadian Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Relevant literature indicates that one's perception of future time is related to their psychological well-being, particularly for older adults. However, more research is needed to understand this relationship in the context of COVID-19. Older adults may be especially vulnerable to the psychological impacts of the pandemic, but findings on their psychological well-being during COVID-19 are mixed. The current study examines relationships between Future Time Perspective (FTP), COVID-19 impact, and Psychological Well-Being, and how these variables change over 8 months during the earlier period of the pandemic. The current study explored these relationships in a sample of older women in Ontario, Canada, at two time points (Mage = 70.39 at T1), who completed online Qualtrics surveys. We used hierarchical linear regressions to test our expectations that COVID-19 impact would be negatively associated with psychological well-being, whereas FTP would be positively associated with psychological well-being, and that FTP would moderate the relationship between COVID-19 impact and psychological well-being. We found partial support for these hypotheses. Our knowledge of the relationship between FTP and psychological well-being would benefit from research that continues to explore different contexts and diverse samples, to enhance understandings of important differences.

Future Time Perspective and Psychological Well-Being for Older Canadian Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Relevant literature indicates that one's perception of future time is related to their psychological well-being, particularly for older adults. However, more research is needed to understand this relationship in the context of COVID-19. Older adults may be especially vulnerable to the psychological impacts of the pandemic, but findings on their psychological well-being during COVID-19 are mixed. The current study examines relationships between Future Time Perspective (FTP), COVID-19 impact, and Psychological Well-Being, and how these variables change over 8 months during the earlier period of the pandemic. The current study explored these relationships in a sample of older women in Ontario, Canada, at two time points (Mage = 70.39 at T1), who completed online Qualtrics surveys. We used hierarchical linear regressions to test our expectations that COVID-19 impact would be negatively associated with psychological well-being, whereas FTP would be positively associated with psychological well-being, and that FTP would moderate the relationship between COVID-19 impact and psychological well-being. We found partial support for these hypotheses. Our knowledge of the relationship between FTP and psychological well-being would benefit from research that continues to explore different contexts and diverse samples, to enhance understandings of important differences.