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

• Published in: Journal of happiness studies Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 169 - 184
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jia Wei, Howell, Ryan T., Stolarski, Maciej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cluster analysis; Economics; Happiness; Life Satisfaction; Methods; Mindfulness; Needs; Operational Definitions; Personality and Social Psychology; Philosophy; Positive Psychology; Psychology; Quality of Life Research; Research Paper; Satisfaction; Self Determination; Social Sciences; Water conservation; Well Being; Subjective time; Happiness; Time perspectives; Well-being; Balanced time perspective
• ISSN: 1389-4978; 1573-7780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10902-012-9322-x

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.