Future time perspective and health behaviors: temporal framing of self-regulatory processes in physical exercise and dietary behaviors.
BACKGROUND
Limitations in perceived lifetime can undermine long-term goal striving. Planning is supposed to translate intentions into health behaviors and to operate as a compensatory strategy to overcome goal striving deficits associated with a limited time perspective.


OBJECTIVE
Two longitudinal studies were conducted examining the compensatory role of planning: an online survey on fruit and vegetable consumption (N = 909; 16-78 years; follow-up at 4 months) and a questionnaire study on physical exercise in older adults (N = 289; 60-95 years, over a half-year period).


METHODS
Intentions, planning, and behavior were measured in a behavior-specific, future time perspective in a generic manner.


RESULTS
Planning mediated between intentions and both health behaviors. Time perspective operated as a moderator, indicating that in individuals with a more limited time perspective, a stronger effect of planning on health behaviors emerged.


CONCLUSIONS
Planning as a self-regulatory strategy may compensate for a limited time perspective.
Health Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. paul.gellert@fu-berlin.de
Paul
P
Gellert
Jochen P
JP
Ziegelmann
Sonia
S
Lippke
Ralf
R
Schwarzer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires