Australian Journal of Psychology

Future Self, Present Choices: Linking Identity and Health Outcomes

Possible selves represent what we expect to become, hope to become, or are afraid of becoming. These future representations of the self are used to evaluate our current self, and along with self-regulatory beliefs, motivate our behavior.  An individual’s possible selves are also dynamic and change over time in response to age, developmental stage, and content. Previous research has found that possible selves are typically focused on developmentally appropriate goals and that both culture and life experience play a role in how these future selves are conceptualized.  Further, the self-regulatory beliefs we have regarding our ability to achieve our hopes and avoid our fears impact our well-being and our behavior. The current Article Collection will build on this literature and invite authors to explore recent research focused on possible selves, health, psychological well-being, and behavior.

Possible selves are important because they are a window into how each of us define our current and future selves. Our possible selves have been shown to impact a wide range of physical and mental health outcomes. For example, previous research has focused on associations between possible selves and psychological well-being, possible selves and physical health, as well as using possible selves in various intervention work from physical exercise to depression. Bringing together an Article Collection that highlights the various ways possible selves contribute to physical and mental health is of interest to health care professionals across many different disciplines. Readers will learn how people think about their future self and how these future selves can be used to potentially promote positive health behaviors across different domains.

This Collection is an opportunity to further integrate research on possible selves with major areas of psychological science, including cognition, motivation, emotion, development, social and personality processes, and health-related behavior. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• How possible selves (i.e., expectations, hopes, and fears of the future self) shape health behaviors
• How possible selves affect psychological well-being
• How possible selves influence decision-making
• Mechanisms underlying relationships with possible selves

We encourage interdisciplinary contributions that explore future-oriented self-concepts across diverse populations, cultural contexts, and developmental stages to ensure a comprehensive and conceptually consistent understanding of possible selves. For example:

• Aging and end-of-life
• Those with chronic illnesses
• Adolescence and puberty
• Graduation, retirement, or other transitional periods

Further, research that evaluates how possible selves can be applied within interventions, educational settings, or organizational domains is of particular interest, as it highlights the translational potential of this work. A range of article types—including full-length research articles and brief reports—will contribute to a thorough examination of how future-oriented self-views promote health and well-being across domains.

Please contact Dr. MK Huffman at [email protected] with any queries about discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

Dr. Dark-Freudeman is a developmental psychologist with an emphasis on adult development and aging who has developed a program of research that examines how self-regulatory beliefs influence our well-being and behavior. Her program of research draws upon concepts and methods within developmental and social psychology, focusing broadly on self-concept and self-efficacy theory, and emphasizes a mixed-method approach including both quantitative and qualitative approaches to test hypotheses. Specifically, much of her research focuses on possible selves, the self-defining hopes and fears we have for our futures related to health, aging, and end-of-life. She currently serves on the editorial board for OMEGA: Journal of Death & Dying and is Editor-in-Chief for Mortality.

Dr. Honey is a psychologist and counselor-in-training whose research examines death anxiety, possible selves, and self-efficacy across adulthood, with a particular focus on deathcare professionals and end-of-life contexts. Drawing on developmental and social psychology, her work investigates both conscious and non-conscious processes related to mortality, meaning-making, and well-being. Her work integrates quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. She has been published in Death Studies, with presentations at national conferences including APA and ADEC. Mckenzie is currently pursuing clinical training in Clinical Mental Health Counseling while continuing to bridge research, applied practice, and caregiving-focused community work.

Dr. Hillhouse is a psychologist whose research examines possible selves, self-efficacy, and health beliefs across adulthood, with a particular focus on chronic illness. Drawing on developmental and social psychology, her work investigates how individuals with and without chronic illness think about their future selves and how these beliefs influence well-being and behavior. She has a passion for data science and statistical analyses. Her work integrates quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. She has also served as a statistical consultant for both graduate students and faculty.

The Guest Advisors declare no conflict of interest regarding this work.