When Will This End? Exploring the Relationship between Depression Symptoms, Perceptions of the Future Self, and Anticipated Length of the COVID-19 Pandemic in College Seniors

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic changed lives overnight. With the pandemic's abrupt spread, graduating college students encountered widespread setbacks and challenges and were left with considerable uncertainty about how long the pandemic would last. This research explored the relationship between anticipation of the pandemic's length and longitudinal mental health, and the role of perception of the future self (i.e., future self-identification) as a potential protective and promotive factor for mental health during the pandemic. Methods: Graduating college seniors completed a two-part longitudinal study starting as the pandemic initially spread in the United States (March 26—April 10, 2020) and ending over half a year into the pandemic's course (October 20-January 27, 2021). Results: Findings suggested that higher initial symptoms of depression did not predict anticipating a longer pandemic, but anticipating a longer pandemic significantly predicted higher downstream depression symptoms over and above the initial symptoms. Additionally, greater future self-identification did not moderate the relationship between anticipated pandemic length and downstream depression (i.e., it was not a significant protective factor). However, having a positive view of the future self significantly predicted better downstream mental health over and above perceptions of pandemic length and initial depression symptoms. Positivity toward the future self may be an important promotive factor for mental health during the pandemic. Discussion: These results indicate that students who anticipate an extended crisis may need extra support, and perception of the future self as positive may be a valuable psychological resource.