Abstract:

A new look at the measurement and concept of future time perspective shows that it has the potential to influence human emotion and cognition, well-being, and psychopathological symptoms. Therefore, especially following the Zimbardo Time Perspective approach and using its relevant measure, the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), time perspective has attracted the attention of researchers. Future time perspective, with its ambiguous and uncertain nature, has attracted special attention among the past, present, and future perspectives. However, measurement and conceptualization of future time perspective is complex, and research in this field produced mixed and contradictory results. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between different future time perspective measures in order to provide a theoretical explanation about mixed findings and further the validity of relevant measures. In the current study, the relationship between different future time perspective measures was investigated using 311 participants. In order to measure future time perspective, the Future subscale of the ZTPI, the Future subscale of the Balanced Time perspective Scale (BTPS), and the Attitudes Towards Future Scale (ATFS) were administered. The results of correlation and second-order factor analyses revealed that the ZTPI-Future subscale is compatible with planned future subscale of ATFS. Thus, the ZTPI-Future subscale seems to measure the cognitive component of the future time perspective. The results indicated that future time perspective is a multi-dimensional construct that includes qualitatively distinct components.

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