Abstract
Balanced time perspective is one of the areas in time perspective research that attracts the most attention. This implies that it might be one of the mechanisms underlying well-being. Moreover, conducted analysis allows for the conclusion that there are at least two reliable ways to recognize the balanced time perspective: the method of profiles and the method of deviation from balanced time perspective. In addition, there are indications that other time perspective profiles exist, with the best investigated among them being negative time perspective profile. Despite considerable interest in this field, many issues regarding the balanced time perspective remain unaddressed. Further investigation should focus on examining the dynamic nature of the balanced time perspective, as well as the nature and significance of other suggested time perspective profiles.
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Appendix: The Lithuanian Study
Appendix: The Lithuanian Study
Participants. 1202 participants (45% males) aged 16 to 89 years (M = 45.5, SD = 18.7) participated in the research. The sample corresponds with the Lithuanian population of 16–89-year-olds by gender, age, education, ethnicity, area of residence, and distribution by counties. The research took place from November 2011 to March 2012.
Measurements. Lithuanian well-being scale (LPGS-S; Kairys, Bagdonas, Liniauskaitė, & Pakalniškienė, 2013) was used to measure well-being. It is a 59-item instrument that measures various eudaimonic and hedonic aspects of well-being. General score of the scale was used in this study. Scale’s Cronbach alpha is 0.86.
The short Lithuanian version (Liniauskaitė & Kairys, 2009) of Zimbardo‘s time perspective inventory (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999) was used to measure time perspective. The inventory measures five time perspectives. Out of the 56 items on the full version of ZTPI, 15 items were selected, 3 items representing each perspective. The team of experts selected the items based on factor analysis and ensured those items represented the best each time perspective and covered the main aspects. Cronbach alpha varied from 0.55 (Present Fatalistic perspective) to 0.76 (Future time perspective). Cronbach alpha of Present hedonistic was 0.35.
Analysis. Based on the scores of LPGS–S, 10% of participants with highest level of well-being and 10% of participants with lowest levels of well-being were selected. Each group consisted of 95 subjects. The average of each time perspective was calculated in each group.
In order to test the homogeneity of the low well-being group, hierarchical cluster analysis was employed (using Squared Euclidean distance and Ward method; number of clusters was identified based on distance change). Two clusters were identified in a group of low well-being participants. Diffuse time perspective cluster consisted of 71 participants, and negative time perspective cluster consisted of 24 participants.
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Kairys, A., Liniauskaitė, A., Bagdonas, A., Pakalniškienė, V. (2017). Balanced Time Perspective: Many Questions and Some Answers. In: Kostić, A., Chadee, D. (eds) Time Perspective. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60191-9_5
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