Investigating Balanced Time Perspective in Adults across the Life Span

Investigating Balanced Time Perspective in Adults across the Life Span Nipat Bock Pichayayothin The current study investigated balanced time perspective (BTP) in adults across the life span (N = 400, 43.3% males). Boniwell and Zimbardo (2004) defined BTP as the flow and flexibility of connecting to the past, living in the present, and looking forward to the future and argued that is an optimal time perspective associated with happiness and well-being. Using Time Attitude Scale (Mello & Worrell, 2012), younger (M = 26.09 years), middle-aged (M = 46.72 years), and older (M = 64.25 years) adults subjective ratings of their positive and negative attitudes towards the past, present, and future were used to identify individuals who had a BTP. Construct validity of the measure of BTP, Time Attitude Scale (Mello & Worrell, 2012) firstly used in BTP literature, was addressed by examining convergent validity and discriminant validity. The past and future (positive and negative) subscales demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity. However, the present (positive and negative) subscales did not demonstrate convergent validity, as the subscales were weakly correlated with other co-construct measures, (e.g., present hedonistic subscale in Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999). Also, the present subscales did not demonstrate discriminant validity as the subscales were strongly correlated with other cross-construct measures (e.g., subjective well-being, Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985, r = .85 with present positive, and -.83 with present negative subscales). The present time attitude subscales appeared to correspond to subjective well-being. Since Time Attitude Scale (Mello & Worrell, 2012) was adapted from prior research on adolescents, the current study investigated the measurement invariance of the measure across age groups of young, middle-aged, and older adults. A multi-group analysis indicated that the Time Attitude Scale (Mello & Worrell, 2012) was invariant across age groups at the weak (factor loading) level, suggesting that the Time Attitude Scale could be used in adult across the life span sample. Age differences in time attitude were found in positive and negative attitudes towards the future when each subscale was examined separately. Older adults viewed their future as more negative and less positive, compared to younger and middle-aged adults, in accord with prior research. A cluster analysis using the six (3 time frame—past, present, future x 2 valence— positive, negative) subscales indicated four distinct time attitude profiles: balanced (52%), negative past (15%), uncertain (22%), and negative (11%). Age differences were not found in membership in any of the four profiles. Associations between BTP and indicators of positive psychological well-being revealed that BTP was significantly positively related to global wellbeing, optimism, ego resiliency, and subjective health, but not to decision making outcomes. INVESTIGATING BALANCED TIME PERSPECTIVE IN ADULTS iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my mentor Dr. JoNell Strough for her invaluable guidance. I appreciate all the suggestions and comments provided by my dissertation committee members; Dr. Barry Edelstein, Dr. Julie Patrick, Dr. Natalie Shook, and Dr. Patricia Haught. I would like to thank my colleagues; Dr. Darcey Powell, Dr. Tara Karns, Dr. Philip Lemaster, Katelyn Ferris, Rebecca Delaney, Valerie Blake, Rachel Stoiko, other graduate students, and staff in the Psychology department at WVU for their advice and support. I would also like to thank my undergraduate research assistant, Aaron Testoff, for helping me with data screening. I acknowledge the Office of Academic Affairs, through the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, and the psychology department at WVU for the financial support. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude for my family and friends in Thailand who always give great moral support. I appreciate the support from my Thai friends in Morgantown, Phachat, Wanwisa, Warangkana, and Ilada. Also, I am grateful to my mother in-law, Rhonda, who helped me recruit participants. Lastly, I am blessed to have my husband, Jeremy, who always believed in me and encouraged me throughout the process. INVESTIGATING BALANCED TIME PERSPECTIVE IN ADULTS iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page.i Abstract.ii Acknowledgements.iii List of tables.vi List of figures.vi