Future time perspective: Dimensions of opportunities, life, and time are differentially associated with physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being in old age

Abstract

Objective: The present study investigated the multidimensional nature of the future time perspective scale and dimension-specific associations with measures of physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being.

Method: Using data from the Berlin Aging Study II (N = 1,038, M age = 71 years, range = 61–88 years, 52% women), different models of future time perspective were compared using confirmatory factor analyses, and the best-fitting model was then used to explore dimension-specific associations with physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being measures.

Results: A model of future time perspective composed of a focus on opportunities, a focus on life, and a focus on time was found to have the best fit. An extended focus on opportunities was associated with stronger grip strength, more accurate memory, as well as higher life satisfaction and positive affect. An extended focus on time was associated with less accurate memory, lower negative affect, and greater life satisfaction. A focus on life was unrelated to study measures.

Discussion: Findings suggest that future time perspective is multidimensional and that these dimensions are differentially associated with physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being in old age.

Keywords:

• Future time perspective
• physical health
• cognitive functioning
• well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) has been supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under grant numbers #16SV5536K, #16SV5537, #16SV5538, #16SV5837, #01UW0808, #01GL1716A, and #01GL1716B. Another source of funding is the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany. Additional contributions (e.g. equipment, logistics, personnel) are made from each of the other participating sites. Further details about the study can be obtained at https://www.base2.mpg.de/en. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies. Pavel Kozik is funded by a doctoral scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Christiane Hoppmann gratefully acknowledges the support of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and the Canada Research Chairs Programme.