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Comparing Three Methods to Measure a Balanced Time Perspective: The Relationship Between a Balanced Time Perspective and Subjective Well-Being

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Abstract

The goals of this study were to determine the relations between having a balanced time perspective (BTP) with various measures of subjective well-being (SWB) and to test how various operationalizations of a BTP might impact the relation between having a BTP and SWB. We operationalized a balanced time perspective using: (a) Drake et al.’s Time Soc 17(1):47–61, (2008) cut-off-point method, (b) Boniwell et al.’s J Posit Psychol 5(1):24–40, (2010) suggestion of using a hierarchical cluster analysis, and (c) a deviation from a balanced time perspective (DBTP; Stolarski et al. Time Soc, 2011). The results demonstrated that having a BTP is related to increased satisfaction with life, happiness, positive affect, psychological need satisfaction, self-determination, vitality, and gratitude as well as decreased negative affect. Also, the DBTP was the best predictor of SWB. We discuss why individuals with a BTP are likely to be happier in life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA

    Jia Wei Zhang & Ryan T. Howell

  2. Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Maciej Stolarski

  3. Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Jia Wei Zhang

Authors
  1. Jia Wei Zhang
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  2. Ryan T. Howell
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  3. Maciej Stolarski
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Correspondence to Ryan T. Howell.

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Zhang, J.W., Howell, R.T. & Stolarski, M. Comparing Three Methods to Measure a Balanced Time Perspective: The Relationship Between a Balanced Time Perspective and Subjective Well-Being. J Happiness Stud 14, 169–184 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9322-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9322-x

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