Identity Development and Disruption in Older Adults During COVID-19: A Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Objectives: Disruptive life events, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, may trigger adjustment and revision of older adults' identities. This mixed-methods study explored how older adults perceived their identities changing as a result of the pandemic, and how such identity dynamics related to pandemic-related events and well-being.

Methods: Participants included 2,248 older adults who participated in the longitudinal COVID-19 Coping Study spanning from April/May 2020 to April/May 2021. Mean age was 67.8 years, 70% were women, and 93% were White. We used qualitative thematic analysis to identify the ways the pandemic affected participants' identities. We then investigated the association between identity themes and testing positive for COVID-19, having a friend or family member hospitalized or dying due to COVID-19, or being vaccinated. Finally, we tested whether identity disruption was associated with 12-month trajectories of well-being (including life satisfaction, loneliness, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-rated health) using latent growth curve models.

Results: Some participants reported positive identity themes, such as rethinking and revising priorities and realization of strength and resilience. Others indicated harmful effects, including identity disruption. Individuals reporting identity disruption had worse well-being at baseline and remained consistently worse over time.

Discussion: Findings highlight that identity remains malleable in later life and that stressful events like the COVID-19 pandemic may trigger positive adaptive identity processes, but can also cause identity disruption that is associated with persistently worse well-being over time.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Identity development; Mental health; Older adulthood; Stressful life events; Well-being.

Figure 1.

Latent growth curve models for well-being trajectories. Study wave ranges from 0 months (baseline; April/May 2020) through 12 months (April/May 2021).