Uncertainty is at the center of debates on how to best cope with the Covid-19 pandemic In our exploration of the role of uncertainty in current aging and lifespan research, we build on an uncertainty regulation framework that includes both reduction and creation of uncertainty as viable self-regulatory processes In particular, we propose that future time perspective, a key component in models of successful aging, should be reconceptualized in terms of uncertainty regulation We argue that by proactively regulating the amount of uncertainty one is exposed to, individuals’ future time perspective can be altered We show how extant research might be (re)interpreted based on these considerations and suggest directions for future research, challenging a number of implicit assumptions about how age and uncertainty are interlinked We close with some practical implications for individuals and organizations for managing the Covid-19 crisis
Uncertainty in Aging and Lifespan Research: Covid-19 as Catalyst for Addressing the Elephant in the Room