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Time perception and psychological well-being in the elderly

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Abstract

Perception of time is a concept that has interested gerontologists for many years, but why “time flies” as the years go by is not well understood. Two hundred and ninety-six institutionalized and community dwelling elderly (X=75.4 years) were administered a battery of psychological measures to test the relationship between emotional well-being and subjective speed of time. Faster time perceptions were associated with better psychological functioning—less clinical depression, enhanced sense of purpose and control, and “younger” perceived age—while the opposite perception held true for elders with time “on their hands.” Time also moved slower for many institutionalized elders. The clinical implications for treating older people in terms of utilizing their time more effectively and meaningfully are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sunnybrook Medical Center, Toronto

    Steve K. Baum

  2. California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles

    Russell L. Boxley & Marcia Sokolowski (private consultant in Toronto)

Authors
  1. Steve K. Baum
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  2. Russell L. Boxley
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  3. Marcia Sokolowski
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Additional information

This paper was presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., August, 1982. The authors would like to thank Steven and Ricki Sharpe for their assistance in revising the manuscript. Reprint requests should be addressed to the senior author, Sunnybrook Hospital, Department of Psychology, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, M4N 3M5.

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Baum, S.K., Boxley, R.L. & Sokolowski, M. Time perception and psychological well-being in the elderly. Psych Quart 56, 54–61 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324632

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324632

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