Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2024
The Relation Between Deviation From the Balanced Time Perspective and Quality of Life Among Older People. The Mediating Role of Death Anxiety and the Moderating Role of Awareness of Aging
Our study aims to identify if the deviation from a balanced time perspective (DBTP) is a predictor of the quality of life among older adults. We also investigated whether awareness of aging moderated and death anxiety mediated the relationship between DBTP and quality of life. A sample of 436 participants was involved in the study (M = 68.27; SD = 6.56; 66.7% female, 33.3% male). They completed scales for measuring the study variables. The results showed that DBTP did not predict quality of life. Awareness of aging did not moderate the relationship between DBTP and quality of life, while death anxiety negatively predicts quality of life, and also mediated the relationship between DBTP and quality of life. Starting from the results obtained, promotion and intervention plans can be developed to improve mental and physical health services.
BellingtierJ. A.NeupertS. D. (2020). Feeling young and in control: Daily control beliefs are associated with younger subjective ages. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 75(5), e13–e17. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbz015
2.
BoniwellI.OsinE.Alex LinleyP.IvanchenkoG. V. (2010). A question of balance: Time perspective and well-being in British and Russian samples. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(1), 24–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760903271181
3.
BoniwellI.ZimbardoP. G. (2015). Balancing time perspective in pursuit of optimal functioning. In JosephS. (Ed.), Positive psychology in practice: Promoting human flourishing in work, health, education, and everyday life (pp. 223–236). New Jersey: Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118996874.ch13
4.
BrothersA.GabrianM.WahlH. W.DiehlM. (2016). Future time perspective and awareness of age-related change: Examining their role in predicting psychological well-being. Psychology and Aging, 31(6), 605–617. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000101
5.
CarelliM. G.WibergB.WibergM. (2011). Development and construct validation of the Swedish Zimbardo time perspective inventory. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 27(4), 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000076
6.
CarstensenL. L.IsaacowitzD. M.CharlesS. T. (1999). Taking time seriously: A theory of socioemotional selectivity. American Psychologist, 54(3), 165–181. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.54.3.165
7.
ChoS.ChoO. H. (2022). Depression and quality of life in older adults with pneumoconiosis: The mediating role of death anxiety. Geriatric Nursing, 44, 215–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2022.02.018
8.
CicirelliV. G. (2006). Fear of death in mid-old age. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 61(2), P75–P81. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/61.2.P75
9.
Cwirlej-SozanskaA.SozanskiB.Wisniowska-SzurlejA.Wilmowska-PietruszynskaA. (2018). Quality of life and related factors among older people living in rural areas in south eastern Poland. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 25(3), 539–545. https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/93847
10.
de OliveiraL. D. S. S. C. B.SouzaE. C.RodriguesR. A. S.FettC. A.PivaA. B. (2019). The effects of physical activity on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in elderly people living in the community. Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 41(1), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1590/2237-6089-2017-0129
11.
DesmyterF.De RaedtR. (2012). The relationship between time perspective and subjective well-being of older adults. Psychologica Belgica, 52(1), 19–38. https://doi.org/10.5334/pb-52-1-19
12.
DiehlM.WahlH. W.BarrettA. E.BrothersA. F.MicheM.MontepareJ. M.WesterhofG. J.WurmS. (2014). Awareness of aging: Theoretical considerations on an emerging concept. Developmental Review, 34(2), 93–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2014.01.001
13.
DiehlM. K.WahlH. W. (2010). Awareness of age-related change: Examination of a (mostly) unexplored concept. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 65B(3), 340–350. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbp110
FortnerB. V.NeimeyerR. A. (1999). Death anxiety in older adults: A quantitative review. Death Studies, 23(5), 387–411. https://doi.org/10.1080/074811899200920
17.
GençF. Z.YıldızS.BilgiliN. (2024). Turkish adaptation and psychometric testing of the awareness of age-related change scale. Current Psychology, 43(10), 9230–9244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05045-7
18.
GholamiA.JahromiL. M.ZareiE.DehghanA. (2013). Application of WHOQOL-BREF in measuring quality of life in health-care staff. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 4(7), 809–817.
19.
GoesM.LopesM.MarôcoJ.OliveiraH.FonsecaC. (2021). Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF (PT) in a sample of elderly citizens. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 19(1), 146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-021-01783-z
20.
IngrandI.PaccalinM.LiuuE.GilR.IngrandP. (2018). Positive perception of aging is a key predictor of quality-of-life in aging people. PLoS One, 13(10), Article e0204044. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204044
21.
IsaacowitzD. M.WadlingerH. A.GorenD.WilsonH. R. (2006). Selective preference in visual fixation away from negative images in old age? An eye-tracking study. Psychology and Aging, 21(1), 40–48. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.21.2.221
22.
JuanitaJ.NurhasanahN.JufrizalJ.FebrianaD. (2022). Health related quality of life of Indonesian older adults living in community. Enfermería Clínica, 32(2), S71–S75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2022.03.022
23.
KairysA.LiniauskaitėA.BagdonasA.PakalniškienėV. (2017). Balanced time perspective: Many questions and some answers. In KostićA.ChadeeD. (Eds.), Time perspective— theory and practice (pp. 97–115). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
24.
KalfossM. H.ReidunsdatterR. J.KlöcknerC. A.NilsenM. (2021). Validation of the WHOQOL-bref: Psychometric properties and normative data for the Norwegian general population. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 19(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01656-x
25.
KasparR.GabrianM.BrothersA.WahlH. W.DiehlM. (2019). Measuring awareness of age-related change: Development of a 10-item short form for use in large-scale surveys. The Gerontologist, 59(3), 130–140. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnx213
26.
KimS.HealeyM. K.GoldsteinD.HasherL.WiprzyckaU. J. (2008). Age differences in choice satisfaction: A positivity effect in decision making. Psychology and Aging, 23(1), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.23.1.33
27.
KošťálJ.Klicperová-BakerM.LukavskáK.LukavskýJ. (2015). Short version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI–short) with and without the Future- Negative scale, verified on nationally representative samples. Time & Society, 25(2), 169–192. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961463x15577254
28.
LaguetteV.ApostolidisT.DanyL.BellonN.GrimaudJ.-C.Lagouanelle-SimeoniM.-C. (2013). Quality of life and time perspective in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Quality of Life Research, 22(10), 2721–2736. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-013-0399-4
29.
LangF. R.CarstensenL. L. (2002). Time counts: Future time perspective, goals, and social relationships. Psychology and Aging, 17(1), 125–139. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.17.1.125
30.
Laureiro-MartinezD.TrujilloC. A.UndaJ. (2017). Time perspective and age: A review of age associated differences. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 101. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00101
31.
LayteR.SextonE.SavvaG. (2013). Quality of life in older age: Evidence from an Irish cohort study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 61(Suppl 2), S299–S305. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.12198
32.
LehtoR. H.SteinK. F. (2009). Death anxiety: An analysis of an evolving concept. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 23(1), 23–41. https://doi.org/10.1891/1541-6577.23.1.23
33.
LevyB. R.SladeM. D.KunkelS. R.KaslS. V. (2002). Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83(2), 261–270. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.83.2.261
34.
López-CastedoA.González-RodríguezR.Vazquez PerezR. (2020). Psychometric properties of the Death Anxiety Scale in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Revista Española de Salud Pública, 93, Article e201910079.
35.
MachadoA. M.VilaçaM.PatrãoA. L.PereiraM. G. (2023). Predictors and moderators of quality of life in male users of anti-aging products. PsyCh Journal, 12(1), 73–83. https://doi.org/10.1002/pchj.609
36.
MartiniS.Setia NingrumD. A.Abdul-MuminK. H.Yi-LiC. (2022). Assessing quality of life and associated factors in post-stroke patients using the world health organization abbreviated generic quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 13, Article 100941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100941
37.
MatherM.CarstensenL. L. (2005). Aging and motivated cognition: The positivity effect in attention and memory. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9(10), 496–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2005.08.005
38.
MohammadiM.DaneshE.TaghilooS. (2017). The mediating role of time perspective in the relationship between religious orientation and quality of life. Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health, 20(1), 75–86. https://doi.org/10.22038/jfmh.2017.10059
39.
MohammedS.MarhefkaJ. T. (2020). How have we, do we, and will we measure time perspective? A review of methodological and measurement issues. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 41(3), 276–293. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2414
40.
MorenoR. P.De La Fuente SolanaE. I.RicoM. A.FernándezL. M. L. (2009). Death anxiety in institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly people in Spain. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 58(1), 61–76. https://doi.org/10.2190/OM.58.1.d
41.
NeriA. L.WahlH. W.KasparR.DiehlM.BatistoniS. S. T.CachioniM.YassudaM. S. (2021). Psychometric study of the awareness of age-related change (AARC) short scale translated to Portuguese, applied to Brazilian older adults. Dementia & Neuropsychologia, 15(2), 230–238. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-57642021dn15-020011
NosratiP.MomeniK.WahlH. W. (2022). Testing the psychometric properties of the awareness of age-related changes questionnaire in a sample of the community-dwelling elderly in Iran. Aging Psychology, 8(2), 133. https://doi.org/10.22126/JAP.2022.7125.1579
44.
ParkK. E.KwonM. H.KwonY. E. (2013). Correlation among depression, death anxiety, and quality of life of aged women. Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing, 27(3), 527–538. https://doi.org/10.5932/JKPHN.2013.27.3.527
45.
PourakbariF.Khajevand KhoshliA.AsadiJ. (2014). Relationship of psychological hardiness and quality of life with death anxiety in nurses. Journal of Research Development in Nursing and Midwifery, 11(2), 53–59.
46.
PréauM.ApostolidisT.FrancoisC.RaffiF.SpireB. (2007). Time perspective and quality of life among HIV-infected patients in the context of HAART. AIDS Care, 19(4), 449–458. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540120601017464
47.
RappaportH.FosslerR. J.BrossL. S.GildenD. (1993). Future time, death anxiety, and life purpose among older adults. Death Studies, 17(4), 369–379. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481189308252631
48.
RönnlundM.ÅströmE.CarelliM. G. (2017). Time perspective in late adulthood: Aging patterns in past, present and future dimensions, deviations from balance, and associations with subjective well-being. Timing & Time Perception, 5(1), 77–98. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134468-00002081
49.
RosénH.AhlströmG.LexénA. (2020). Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF among next of kin to older persons in nursing homes. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 18(1), 103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01345-9
50.
RupprechtF. S.MartinK.KaminS. T.LangF. R. (2022). COVID-19 and perceiving finitude: Associations with future time perspective, death anxiety, and ideal life expectancy. Psychology and Aging, 37(2), 260–271. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000661
51.
Sharif NiaH.Pahlevan SharifS.KoocherG. P.YaghoobzadehA.HaghdoostA. A.Mar WinM. T.SoleimaniM. A. (2020). Psychometric properties of the death anxiety scale-extended among patients with end-stage renal disease. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 80(3), 380–396. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222817733220
52.
SoleimaniM. A.LehtoR. H.NegarandehR.BahramiN.ChanY. H. (2017). Death anxiety and quality of life in Iranian caregivers of patients with cancer. Cancer Nursing, 40(1), E1–E10. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000000355
53.
StolarskiM.Cyniak-CieciuraM. (2016). Balanced and less traumatized: Balanced time perspective mediates the relationship between temperament and severity of PTSD syndrome in motor vehicle accident survivor sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 101, 456–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.06.055
54.
StolarskiM.ZajenkowskiM.JankowskiK. S.SzymaniakK. (2020). Deviation from the balanced time perspective: A systematic review of empirical relationships with psychological variables. Personality and Individual Differences, 156, Article 109772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.109772
55.
TemplerD. I. (1970). The construction and validation of a death anxiety scale. The Journal of General Psychology, 82(2d Half), 165–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.1970.9920634
56.
TestadI.UshakovaA.AakreJ. A.SabatiniS.GjestsenM. T. (2022). Awareness of age-related changes in Norwegian individuals 50+. Short form questionnaire validation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, Article 929249. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.929249
57.
TofighiD.MacKinnonD. P. (2011). RMediation: An R package for mediation analysis confidence intervals. Behavior Research Methods, 43(3), 692–700. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-011-0076-x
58.
TomichP. L.DeMalioI. S.TolichA. (2022). Seek balance: Deviation from balance mediates trauma exposure and quality of life. Journal of Loss & Trauma, 27(5), 448–460. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2021.2005329
59.
TomichP. L.TolichA. (2021). Life is a balancing act: Deviation from a balanced time perspective mediates the relationship between lifetime trauma exposure and optimism. Current Psychology, 40(5), 2472–2480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00191-3
60.
WinquistA.RönnlundM. (2024). A time to reflect: Deviations from the balanced time perspective are associated with hypomentalization. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1379585. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1379585
61.
World Health Organization. (1996). WHOQOL-BREF: Introduction, administration, scoring and generic version of the assessment: Field trial version, December 1996 (No. WHOQOL- BREF). World Health Organization.
62.
World Health Organization. (1997). Measuring quality of life. Division of mental health and prevention of substance abuse (pp. 1–2).
63.
WorrellF. C.TempleE. C.McKayM. T.ŽivkovičU.PerryJ. L.MelloZ. R.MusilB.ColeJ. C. (2016). A theoretical approach to resolving the psychometric problems associated with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 34(1), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000313
64.
ZimbardoP. G.BoydJ. N. (1999). Putting time in perspective: A valid, reliable individual-differences metric. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1271–1288. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.77.6.1271
65.
ZimbardoP. G.BoydJ. N. (2015). Putting time in perspective: A valid, reliable individual-differences metric. In StolarskiM.FieulaineN.van BeekW. (Eds.), Time perspective theory; review, research and application (pp. 17–55). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07368-2_2
