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Problem solving: Helping understand why future orientation regulates emotion and benefits performances

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Abstract

The present study examined whether future orientation can regulate emotions and benefit performance among employees and students and tested the mediation effect of planning in certain processes. In Study 1, a 3-wave assessment of future orientation, job burnout, and job engagement was conducted with 180 participants. Results showed that future orientation is positively related to job engagement, but negatively related to job burnout. In addition, planning serves as a mediator in the relationship between future orientation and job engagement and between future orientation and job burnout. In Study 2, 193 participants completed scales measuring the effects of future orientation, planning, task completion, and mood. Results showed that planning serves as a mediator in the relationship between future orientation and positive affect, between future orientation and negative affect, and between future orientation and academic performance. This research provides evidence that future orientation prepares individuals to successfully cope with stress through problem-solving strategies. Our findings that future orientation helps people cope with future barriers through planning highlight the importance of future orientation in the improvement of performance for either employees or students.

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Data Availability

The datasets and code used in the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This research was funded by a research grant 20BSH139 and 20CSH073 from National Social Science Foundation of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, China

    Lei Zheng, Yidi Chen & Yiqun Gan

  2. School of Economics and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China

    Lei Zheng

  3. Center for China Social Trust Research, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China

    Lei Zheng

  4. Institute of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China

    Lei Zheng

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  1. Lei Zheng
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Contributions

Y. Gan and L. Zheng developed the study concept. L. Zheng and Y. Gan contributed to the study design. Data collection were performed by L. Zheng and Y. Chen. Zheng and Y. Chen performed the data analysis and interpretation. L. Zheng and Y. Gan drafted the manuscript, and Y. Chen provided critical revisions. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.

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Correspondence to Yiqun Gan.

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Zheng, L., Chen, Y. & Gan, Y. Problem solving: Helping understand why future orientation regulates emotion and benefits performances. Curr Psychol 42, 17898–17908 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02983-6

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