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Life Satisfaction in Time Orientation

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Abstract

Time orientation influences people’s perception and evaluation of a situation. Satisfaction in the present life and the future life is likely to be affected by one’s time orientation. Using samples of 1829 middle-aged Americans, this study examined the association between individuals’ time orientation and satisfaction with life in general as well as with their financial situation. In this study, we created the future-to-current ratio to assess a person’s relative time orientation tendency between future time orientation and present time orientation. The results indicated that respondents with a higher tendency of holding future time orientation exhibited greater life satisfaction and financial satisfaction of the present. A higher tendency of holding future time orientation also predicted a higher life satisfaction and financial satisfaction of the future. The findings of the study emphasize having a future time orientation is important with regard to well-being.

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Data Availability

This study used a public data (MIDUS).

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics, University of Georgia, 205 Dawson Hall, 305 Sanford Dr., Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Narang Park

  2. Department of Family Consumer Science, Minnesota State University, 102 Wiecking Center, Mankato, MN, 56001, USA

    Jae Min Lee

  3. Division of Health and Consumer Sciences, South Dakota State University, SWG 149, Box 2275A, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA

    Wookjae Heo

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  1. Narang Park
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Park, N., Lee, J.M. & Heo, W. Life Satisfaction in Time Orientation. Applied Research Quality Life 16, 1717–1731 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-020-09830-5

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