South Korean short version of the Swedish Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of 20-Item Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (C-ZTPI-20) in Chinese Adolescent Population

Background

This study assesses the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (C-ZTPI-20) in an adolescent population.

Methods

The investigation encompasses a sample of 2634 middle school students from China and aims to evaluate the instrument's reliability, structural validity, measurement invariance, criterion validity, and network structure attributes.

Results

First, descriptive analysis revealed satisfactory reliabilities for four out of five C-ZTPI-20 dimensions, with Present Fatalistic (PF) exhibiting relatively low reliability. Moreover, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported the 5-dimensional structure across all samples and sexes, albeit with a modest Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) for girls. Furthermore, measurement invariance analysis underscores unbiased assessment across sexes. Sex differences emerge in the Present Hedonistic (PH) dimension, where boys showed higher scores. Furthermore, criteria validity analysis revealed that Past Positive (PP) and Future (F) were positively associated with extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, grit, and mental health, while they were negatively associated with neuroticism. Past Negative (PN) and PF showed inverse trends, while PH perspective demonstrated complex, varied correlations with these psychological traits, underscoring the multifaceted nature of time perspectives. Finally, network analysis revealed positive inter-correlations within dimensions and significant edge differences between sexes, particularly in inter-dimension connections. Despite differing rankings, the most central and marginal items remained consistent between boys and girls in network models.

Conclusion

These findings contribute to understanding the C-ZTPI-20's effectiveness in assessing adolescent time perspectives and inform interventions promoting psychological well-being and coping strategies.

Relationship between Decision-Making, Time Perspective and Stress

Decision-making is a process of gathering information, organizing, and making appropriate choices. Time perspective refers to the ways one perceives the past, present, and future. Every decision-making style dwells in one of these temporal orientations. Within the process of decision-making, there is likely to be some degree of stress. The current study explores the association between Decision-Making Styles, Time Perspective, and Stress among college students (n = 120). Tools used were the General Decision-Making Style (GDMS), the short version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI-short), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results showed a significant association between decision-making styles, time perspective, and stress. Further, decision-making was found to be influenced by temporal orientations and stress levels. Furthermore, this article also proposes to discuss the application value of decision-making in the process of addressing the challenges associated with career and other real-life decisions.