Abstract
Future time perspective (FTP) refers to an individual’s tendency and attitude to strive for future goals and rewards, which plays a crucial role in predicting the likelihood of achieving desired well-being outcomes. Prior research has shown that FTP contributes to health behaviors through changes in self-control. However, it remains unknown whether bedtime procrastination (BP), a specific type of health behavior procrastination, is affected by FTP through self-control. Therefore, this study aimed to examine this pathway in a sample of college students. A total of 583 effective participants completed the survey. The Bedtime Procrastination Scale was used to assess BP, the future dimension of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI-F) and the General Future Time Perspective Scale (G-FTPS) were used to estimate FTP, and the Self-Control Scale was used to estimate self-control. The results obtained from the correlation analysis indicated that ZTPI-F and the five dimensions of G-FTPS were negatively associated with BP. Hierarchical regression and structural equation modelling analyses further suggested that FTP independently predicted BP partially through the mediating effect of self-control. Participants with more FTP orientation had higher levels of self-control, which suggested they would less frequently engage in BP behaviors. Two dimensions (behavioral commitment and far-reaching goal orientation) of the G-FTPS were mainly involved. These findings indicate an important role for FTP in health behaviors through changes in self-control. In the case of BP, self-control can mediate its relationship with FTP, which could help design individualized interventions to avoid BP.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [L Mu: muliLNU2017@163.com].
Code availability
Not applicable.
References
Althubaiti, A. (2016). Information bias in health research: Definition, pitfalls, and adjustment methods. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 9, 211–217. https://doi.org/10.2147/jmdh.S104807
Aquino, A., Alparone, F., Pagliaro, S., Haddock, G., Maio, G., Perrucci, M., & Ebisch, S. (2020). Sense or sensibility? The neuro-functional basis of the structural matching effect in persuasion. Cognitive, Affective Behavioral Neuroscience, 20(3), 536–550. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-020-00784-7
Baird, H., Webb, T., Martin, J., & Sirois, F. (2017). The relationship between time perspective and self-regulatory processes, abilities and outcomes: A protocol for a meta-analytical review. British Medical Journal Open, 7(6), e017000. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017000
Bernecker, K., & Job, V. (2020). Too exhausted to go to bed: Implicit theories about willpower and stress predict bedtime procrastination. British Journal of Psychology, 111(1), 126–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12382
Buxton, O., & Marcelli, E. (2010). Short and long sleep are positively associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease among adults in the United States. Social Science Medicine, 71(5), 1027–1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.05.041
Cacioppo, J. T., & Petty, R. E. (1982). The need for cognition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42(1), 116–131. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.42.1.116
Cao, W. (2010). Application of cross-sectional study in clinical research. Peking University( Health Sciences), 42(6), 659–660. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1671-167X.2010.06.013
Chiou, W., Wu, W., & Chang, M. (2013). Think abstractly, smoke less: A brief construal-level intervention can promote self-control, leading to reduced cigarette consumption among current smokers. Addiction, 108(5), 985–992. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12100
Dassen, F., Houben, K., & Jansen, A. (2015). Time orientation and eating behavior: Unhealthy eaters consider immediate consequences, while healthy eaters focus on future health. Appetite, 91, 13–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2015.03.020
Forman, E. M., & Butryn, M. L. (2015). A new look at the science of weight control: How acceptance and commitment strategies can address the challenge of self-regulation. Appetite, 84, 171–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.10.004
Guo, J., Meng, D., Ma, X., Zhu, L., Yang, L., & Mu, L. (2020). The impact of bedtime procrastination on depression symptoms in Chinese medical students. Sleep and Breathing, 24(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02079-0
Guthrie, L., Butler, S., Lessl, K., Ochi, O., & Ward, M. (2014). Time perspective and exercise, obesity, and smoking: Moderation of associations by age. American Journal of Health Promotion, 29(1), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.130122-QUAN-39
Hall, P., Fong, G., & Meng, G. (2014). Time perspective as a determinant of smoking cessation in four countries: Direct and mediated effects from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) 4-Country Surveys. Addictive Behaviors, 39(7), 1183–1190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.03.019
Herzog-Krzywoszanska, R., & Krzywoszanski, L. (2019). Bedtime procrastination, sleep-related behaviors, and demographic factors in an online survey on a polish sample. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, 963. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00963
Hu, L., & t., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118
Hu, T. (2014). The Relationship between college students’ procrastination and future time perspective. Advances in Psychology, 4(6), 748–758. https://doi.org/10.12677/ap.2014.46099
Huang, X. T. (2004). On time perspective. Psychological Science, 27(1), 5–7. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1671-6981.2004.01.002
Joireman, J., Shaffer, M., Balliet, D., & Strathman, A. (2012). Promotion orientation explains why future-oriented people exercise and eat healthy: Evidence from the two-factor consideration of future consequences-14 scale. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(10), 1272–1287. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167212449362
Kadzikowska-Wrzosek, R. (2020). Insufficient sleep among adolescents: The role of bedtime procrastination, chronotype and autonomous vs. controlled motivational regulations. Current Psychology, 39(3), 1031–1040.
Kamphorst, B., Nauts, S., De Ridder, D., & Anderson, J. (2018). Too depleted to turn in: The relevance of end-of-the-day resource depletion for reducing bedtime procrastination. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 252. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00252
Kim, J., Hong, H., Lee, J., & Hyun, M. (2017). Effects of time perspective and self-control on procrastination and internet addiction. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(2), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.017
Kim, K., & Kim, H. (2018). Time matters: Framing antismoking messages using current smokers’ preexisting perceptions of temporal distance to smoking-related health risks. Health Communication, 33(3), 338–348. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2016.1266579
Kooij, D., Kanfer, R., Betts, M., & Rudolph, C. (2018). Future time perspective: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(8), 867–893. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000306
Kroese, F. M., De Ridder, D. T., Evers, C., & Adriaanse, M. A. (2014). Bedtime procrastination: Introducing a new area of procrastination. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 611. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00611
Kroese, F. M., Evers, C., Adriaanse, M. A., & de Ridder, D. T. (2016). Bedtime procrastination: A self-regulation perspective on sleep insufficiency in the general population. Journal of Health Psychology, 21(5), 853–862. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105314540014
Kuhnel, J., Syrek, C. J., & Dreher, A. (2018). Why don’t you go to bed on time? A daily diary study on the relationships between chronotype, self-control resources and the phenomenon of bedtime procrastination. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 77. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00077
Liau, A., Neihart, M., Teo, C., Goh, L., & Chew, P. (2018). A quasi-experimental study of a fitbit-based self-regulation intervention to improve physical activity, well-being, and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 21(11), 727–734. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0502
Ma, X., Meng, D., Zhu, L., Xu, H., Guo, J., Yang, L., Yu, L., Fu, Y., & Mu, L. (2020). Bedtime procrastination predicts the prevalence and severity of poor sleep quality of Chinese undergraduate students. Journal of American College Health, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1785474
Ma, X., Zhu, L., Guo, J., Zhao, Y., Fu, Y., & Mu, L. (2021). Reliability and validity of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale in Chinese college students. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29(4), 717–720. https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2021.04.011
Maio, G., & Esses, V. (2001). The need for affect: Individual differences in the motivation to approach or avoid emotions. Journal of Personality, 69(4), 583–615. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6494.694156
Peetsma, T. T. D. (2000). Future time perspective as a predictor of school investment. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 44(2), 177–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/713696667
Price, M., Higgs, S., & Lee, M. (2017). Self-control mediates the relationship between time perspective and BMI. Appetite, 108, 156–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.09.034
Ronnlund, M., & Carelli, M. G. (2018). Time perspective biases are associated with poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and lower levels of subjective well-being among older adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1356. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01356
Sircova, A., van de Vijver, F., Osin, E., Milfont, T., Fieulaine, N., Kislali-Erginbilgic, A., Zimbardo, P., Djarallah, S., Chorfi, M., Leite, U., Lin, H., Lv, H., Bunjevac, T., Tomaš, T., Punek, J., Vrlec, A., Matić, J., Bokulić, M., Klicperová-Baker, M., ... (2014). A global look at time: A 24-country study of the equivalence of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. SAGE Open, 4(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013515686
Song, Q. (2004). Theoretical and empirical research on future time perspective of university students (Doctoral dissertation, Southwest Normal University). China National Knowledge Infrastructure. https://kns.cnki.net/KCMS/detail/detail.aspx?dbname=CDFD9908&filename=2004085313.nh
Stefansdottir, R., Gundersen, H., Rognvaldsdottir, V., Lundervold, A., Gestsdottir, S., Gudmundsdottir, S., Chen, K., Brychta, R., & Johannsson, E. (2020). Association between free-living sleep and memory and attention in healthy adolescents. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 16877. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73774-x
Tan, S., & Guo, Y. (2008). Revision of Self-Control Scale for Chinese college students. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 16(5), 468–470.
Trope, Y., & Liberman, N. (2010). Construal-level theory of psychological distance. Psychological Review, 117(2), 440–463. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018963
Trope, Y., Liberman, N., & Wakslak, C. (2007). Construal levels and psychological distance: Effects on representation, prediction, evaluation, and behavior. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 17(2), 83–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1057-7408(07)70013-x
van Eerde, W., & Venus, M. (2018). A daily diary study on sleep quality and procrastination at work: The moderating role of trait self-control. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 2029. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02029
Xu, Y., Yang, Y., & Ma, X. (2018). Time perspective, optimistic bias, and self-control among different statuses of university smokers in China: A cross-sectional study. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 23(9), 1054–1059. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2018.1425461
Zhang, M., & Wu, A. (2020). Effects of smartphone addiction on sleep quality among Chinese university students: The mediating role of self-regulation and bedtime procrastination. Addictive Behaviors, 111, 106552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106552
Zhu, L., Meng, D., Ma, X., Guo, J., & Mu, L. (2020). Sleep timing and hygiene practices of high bedtime procrastinators: A direct observational study. Family Practice, 37(6), 779–784. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmaa079
Zimbardo, P., & Boyd, J. (1999). Putting time in perspective: A valid, reliable individual-differences metric. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1271–1288. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.77.6.1271
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31800924) and the Scientific Study Project for Education Department of Liaoning Province (No.L201783641).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Dexin Meng and Li Mu were responsible for study design. Dexin Meng, Ying Zhao, Jing Guo, Huiying Xu, Liwei Zhu, Yiming Fu, and Xiaohan Ma were responsible for recruiting the subjects and collecting the samples. Ying Zhao, Jing Guo, and Li Mu were involved in statistical analysis. Li Mu was responsible for writing manuscript and providing the funding for the study. All authors have contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical Approval
All procedures were conducted under ethical standards and approved by the Ethics Committee of Liaoning Normal University.
Consent to Participate
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Consent for Publication
The submission has had all of the authors’ approval. The work presented here has not been published previously, nor is it being considered for publication elsewhere.
Conflict of Interest
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meng, D., Zhao, Y., Guo, J. et al. The relationship between bedtime procrastination, future time perspective, and self-control. Curr Psychol 42, 11378–11387 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02419-7
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02419-7