Age, preceding health changes, and the temporal structure of self-continuity.

= 52.73, 53% women) of the German Socio-Economic Panel Innovation Sample. We used latent growth models to examine the associations of current levels and preceding multiyear changes of physical and mental health with subsequent self-continuity-both for average self-continuity and for temporal patterns of self-continuity (i.e., relative self-continuity for past vs. future and close vs. distant time points of 1, 5, and 10 years). The associations between health and self-continuity were most consistent and strongest for (a) past self-continuity relative to future self-continuity, (b) subjective health and all three mental health indicators relative to physical health indicators, (c) concurrent health levels relative to preceding changes, and (d) older adults relative to young and middle-aged adults. Findings extend our understanding of how longitudinal shifts in physical and mental health are associated with concurrent self-continuity across adulthood and into old age. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).