Using Temporal Profiles and a Deviation from Balanced Approach to Understand Alcohol and Mental Health Problems

Abstract

The present study examined how multiple operationalizations of Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) scores (raw scores; temporal profiles, based on cluster analysis; and the Deviation from a Balanced Time Perspective, or ‘transformed’ methodology) were related to both alcohol-related problems and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Participants were a large (N = 816) university sample in the United Kingdom. A total of four time perspective profiles were observed: Futures, Presents, Past Negative-Futures, and Fatalists. Having a Present profile was associated with the worst alcohol-related outcomes. With regard to psychopathology, individuals with a Future profile reported the least anxious and depressive symptoms, and individuals with a Fatalistic profile reported the highest levels of depression. The effect of transformed scores was less robust, though greater deviation from a balanced perspective was associated with somewhat higher symptoms of anxiety and depression. Further, models using raw ZTPI dimension scores explained a greater amount of variance than models using the transformed scores. This study suggests that operationalizing the ZTPI in different ways produces results, which differ both in magnitude and statistical significance. We recommend that future studies using the ZTPI employ these various operationalizations in order that consensus on the optimal approach can be reached.

Keywords:

• Anxiety
• AUDIT
• depression
• deviation from a balanced time perspective
• person-centered analysis
• Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael T. McKay

Michael T. McKay is a Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and has published extensively on time perspective. Michael recently managed a seven wave Randomized Controlled Trial examining the efficacy of a classroom alcohol education intervention.

James R. Andretta

James R. Andretta, in addition to his work in clinical practice, he has also published widely on subjects as varied as racial identity attitudes, stereotype threat, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, addictive behaviors, and parent attachment. James is proficient in a range of statistical approaches, and is widely published in the area of Time. Perspective.

Jon C. Cole

Jon C. Cole is a Professor in Psychological Sciences at the University of Liverpool. Prior to developing an interest in Time Perspective research, Jon published extensively in the pharmacological effects of Ecstasy (MDMA). Jon was a co-Investigator on the above-mentioned RCT.

Frank C. Worrell

Frank C. Worrell is a Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley. His areas of expertise include academic talent development/gifted education, at-risk youth, cultural identities, scale development and validation, teacher effectiveness, and the translation of psychological research findings into school-based practice.