Abstract
The relationship between a balanced time perspective and life satisfaction has been demonstrated in previous studies, yet the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. The current study tested whether a latent factor “temporal negative affect” underlay anxiety and depression and whether this latent factor mediated the relationship between balanced time perspective and life satisfaction. To assess life satisfaction, time perspectives, anxiety and depression, a total of 995 university students aged from 17 to 25 years were recruited. Structural equation modelling analysis demonstrated that the latent factor “temporal negative affect” consisted of anxiety and depression and played a mediating role in the relationship between balanced time perspective and life satisfaction. These findings can deepen our understanding of how time perspectives potentially influence life satisfaction, offering new directions towards enhancing well-being in health and disease.
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The data of this study is available upon reasonable request.
Notes
\(DBTP=\sqrt{{\left( oPN- ePN\right)}^2+{\left( oPP- ePP\right)}^2+{\left( oPF- ePF\right)}^2+{\left( oPH- ePH\right)}^2+{\left( oF- eF\right)}^2}\)
oPN, oPP, oPF, oPH, oF indicate optimal score of Past-Negative, Past-Positive, Present-Fatalistic, Present-Hedonistic, and Future time perspective, respectively. oPN = 1.95, oPP = 4.60, oPF = 1.95, oPH = 3.90, oF = 4.00; ePN, ePP, ePF, ePH, eF indicate scores reported by participants (Stolarski et al. 2011).
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The authors are grateful to the participants for their continued support of our research.
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Y.W. is supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31571130). M.I. is supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (Grant No. FT160100096).
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T.C. and Y.W. contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection was performed by T.C., L.L., X.Q. and H.S. Data analysis were performed by T.C. and H.S. The first draft of the manuscript was written by T.C., Y.W. and J.C. revised the manuscript. M.I. provided insightful comments and improved the manuscript to a large degree. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Chen, T., Liu, Ll., Cui, Jf. et al. Balanced Time Perspective and Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of “Temporal Negative Affect”. J Happiness Stud 22, 2563–2574 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00330-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00330-9