From the perception to the uses of time: Time perspective and procrastination among adults in spain

Abstract

The behavioural sciences have investigated the relationship between time domain or control and human development from a variety of perspectives, in recent decades, outlining two attitudinal manifestations that are deeply involved in such development: Time orientations and procrastination. There is abundant literature regarding these concepts, but few works provide data about the relationship between these attitudes and aspects of everyday life, data that might identify options to regulate such attitudes. This paper analyses time perspective and procrastination with regards to age, temporal characteristics of work, and living arrangements. 720 adults (390 men and 330 women) aged between 18 and 64 years (M = 40.44; SD = 9.80) participated. The instruments used were an ad hoc questionnaire on sociodemographic data, and two scales validated for the Spanish population: The Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and a procrastination instrument that combines the General Procrastination Scale, the Decisional Procrastination Questionnaire, and the Adult Inventory of Procrastination. The results show an unbalanced general perspective in the sample as a whole, with significant relationships by age, living arrange-ments (e.g., more negative past — d =.33 — and hedonistic present — d =.30 — among respondents who live with their parents) and temporal characteristics of work (e.g., more fatalistic present in respondents with rigid schedules — d =.53). Procrastination is more present in young people aged between 18 and 29 (in the dilatory behaviour — d =.63 — and lack of punctuality — d =.69 — factors). Also, several of these factors are associated with living alone or with extending the working day. These findings highlight determining factors relating to attitudes to time, results that highlight specific variables from daily life which can be the subject of interventions to facilitate the development of people with the potential to dominate or control time.