Time to Flourish: Temporal Perspective and Well-Being Across the Lifespan

J. Webster; E.T. Bohlmeijer; G.J. Westerhof

doi:10.1093/geront/gns068

Abstract

Little research is available on a balanced time perspective in older age. Balanced time perspective consists of using both one’s personal past and anticipated future to a relatively high degree. This study investigated the relationship of balanced time perspective with age, mental health, personality, and wisdom using the Balanced Time Perspective Scale (BTPS). Persons high on both past and future subscales of the BTPS are termed ‘time expansive’ (balanced); persons low on past and future ‘time restrictive’; ‘reminiscers’ are high on past but low on future; ‘futurists’ low on past but high on future. 512 Dutch adults (17–92 years) completed the BTPS and questionnaires on mental health, personality, and wisdom. As predicted, persons in the time expansive category scored higher on all three dependent measures. Less older than younger or middle aged adults are in the time expansive category. Implications are discussed within a lifespan perspective.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	22-22
Number of pages	1
Journal	The Gerontologist
Volume	51
Issue number	Suppl. 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gns068
Publication status	Published - 18 Nov 2011
Event	64th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Gerontological Society of America 2011: Lifestyle→Lifespan - Boston, United States Duration: 18 Nov 2011 → 22 Nov 2011 Conference number: 64

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10.1093/geront/gns068

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title = "Time to Flourish: Temporal Perspective and Well-Being Across the Lifespan",

abstract = "Little research is available on a balanced time perspective in older age. Balanced time perspective consists of using both one{\textquoteright}s personal past and anticipated future to a relatively high degree. This study investigated the relationship of balanced time perspective with age, mental health, personality, and wisdom using the Balanced Time Perspective Scale (BTPS). Persons high on both past and future subscales of the BTPS are termed {\textquoteleft}time expansive{\textquoteright} (balanced); persons low on past and future {\textquoteleft}time restrictive{\textquoteright}; {\textquoteleft}reminiscers{\textquoteright} are high on past but low on future; {\textquoteleft}futurists{\textquoteright} low on past but high on future. 512 Dutch adults (17–92 years) completed the BTPS and questionnaires on mental health, personality, and wisdom. As predicted, persons in the time expansive category scored higher on all three dependent measures. Less older than younger or middle aged adults are in the time expansive category. Implications are discussed within a lifespan perspective.",

author = "J. Webster and E.T. Bohlmeijer and G.J. Westerhof",

year = "2011",

month = nov,

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doi = "10.1093/geront/gns068",

language = "English",

volume = "51",

pages = "22--22",

journal = "The Gerontologist",

issn = "0016-9013",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "Suppl. 2",

note = "64th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Gerontological Society of America 2011 : Lifestyle→Lifespan ; Conference date: 18-11-2011 Through 22-11-2011",

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T1 - Time to Flourish

T2 - 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Gerontological Society of America 2011

AU - Webster, J.

AU - Bohlmeijer, E.T.

AU - Westerhof, G.J.

N1 - Conference code: 64

PY - 2011/11/18

Y1 - 2011/11/18

N2 - Little research is available on a balanced time perspective in older age. Balanced time perspective consists of using both one’s personal past and anticipated future to a relatively high degree. This study investigated the relationship of balanced time perspective with age, mental health, personality, and wisdom using the Balanced Time Perspective Scale (BTPS). Persons high on both past and future subscales of the BTPS are termed ‘time expansive’ (balanced); persons low on past and future ‘time restrictive’; ‘reminiscers’ are high on past but low on future; ‘futurists’ low on past but high on future. 512 Dutch adults (17–92 years) completed the BTPS and questionnaires on mental health, personality, and wisdom. As predicted, persons in the time expansive category scored higher on all three dependent measures. Less older than younger or middle aged adults are in the time expansive category. Implications are discussed within a lifespan perspective.

AB - Little research is available on a balanced time perspective in older age. Balanced time perspective consists of using both one’s personal past and anticipated future to a relatively high degree. This study investigated the relationship of balanced time perspective with age, mental health, personality, and wisdom using the Balanced Time Perspective Scale (BTPS). Persons high on both past and future subscales of the BTPS are termed ‘time expansive’ (balanced); persons low on past and future ‘time restrictive’; ‘reminiscers’ are high on past but low on future; ‘futurists’ low on past but high on future. 512 Dutch adults (17–92 years) completed the BTPS and questionnaires on mental health, personality, and wisdom. As predicted, persons in the time expansive category scored higher on all three dependent measures. Less older than younger or middle aged adults are in the time expansive category. Implications are discussed within a lifespan perspective.

U2 - 10.1093/geront/gns068

DO - 10.1093/geront/gns068

M3 - Meeting Abstract

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JO - The Gerontologist

JF - The Gerontologist

IS - Suppl. 2

Y2 - 18 November 2011 through 22 November 2011

ER -

Time to Flourish: Temporal Perspective and Well-Being Across the Lifespan

Abstract

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