Schwartz Seth J, Ertanir Beyhan, Harkness Audrey, Zamboanga Byron L, Bessaha Melissa L, Bartholomew John B, Meca Alan, Michikyan Minas, Duque Maria, Montero-Zamora Pablo, López-Madrigal Claudia, Castillo Linda G, Ángel Cano Miguel, Subrahmanyam Kaveri, Piña-Watson Brandy, Regan Pamela, Ham Lindsay S, Hanson Marissa K, Martinez Charles R
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern, Windisch, Aargau, Switzerland.
J Am Coll Health. 2025 Jan;73(1):244-254. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2214244. Epub 2023 Jun 8.
: We examined the role of personal identity vis-à-vis COVID-related outcomes among college students from seven U.S. campuses during spring/summer 2021. : The present sample consisted of 1,688 students (74.5% female, age range 18-29). The sample was ethnically diverse, and 57.3% were first-generation students. : Students completed an online survey assessing personal identity synthesis and confusion, COVID-related worries, general internalizing symptoms, positive adaptation, and general well-being. : Personal identity synthesis was negatively related to COVID-related worries and general internalizing symptoms, and positively related to positive adaptation, both directly and indirectly through life satisfaction and psychological well-being. Personal identity confusion evidenced an opposing set of direct and indirect associations with outcome variables. : Personal identity may potentially be protective against pandemic-related distress among college students, in part through its association with well-being. Reducing identity confusion and promoting identity synthesis are essential among college students during this and future pandemics.
