Predictors of diachronic disunity measures in the general population: An assessment of dissociation, autobiographical memory functions, well-being, and sense and clarity of self.

Abstract

Diachronic disunity is feeling the lack of a continuous sense of self over time. It is understood to occur in the general population, but is more prevalent in those with psychiatric illnesses; it is, however, less well understood in the psychological literature. This study explored factors that may contribute to a sense of diachronic disunity as measured by three separate scales in 251 individuals from the general population; the explanatory variables included trait and state dissociation, autobiographical reasoning, autobiographical memory functioning, well-being, sense of self, and self-concept clarity. Higher trait dissociation was significantly associated with past-to-present and present-to-future diachronic disunity, but its impact generally fell from significance once self-concept clarity was included, which significantly contributed to all diachronic disunity measures. Problems with autobiographical reasoning, autobiographical memory functioning, and sense of self were found to be weak, yet significant, predictors of diachronic disunity on some, but not all, measures of diachronicity. State dissociation and subjective well-being did not predict diachronic disunity. Findings suggest that trait dissociation and self-concept clarity, in particular, play a role in the extent to which an individual may experience diachronic disunity.