title: Time to flourish: the relationship of temporal perspective to well-being and wisdom across adulthood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the centrality of time to the aging process, the well-being consequences of different temporal orientations for optimal aging are poorly understood. We investigate one underexamined area of temporal orientation, namely a balanced time perspective, in a large, lifespan sample from the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants consisted of 512 Dutch adults ranging in age from 17 to 92 years (Mage = 46.46, SD = 21.37), including 186 male and 326 females. Participants completed a measure of balanced time perspective, mental health, and wisdom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RESULTS indicated that a balanced time perspective uniquely predicted both mental health and wisdom even after controlling for demographic, physical health, and personality variables. Younger adults tended to be more future-oriented relative to older adults while older adults tended to be more past-oriented relative to younger adults. Further, both midlife and younger adults were more likely to have a balanced time perspective relative to older adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A balanced time perspective is associated with higher well-being and wisdom across the adult age span.
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , Langara College , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: Jeffrey Dean
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Ernst T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Bohlmeijer
authors.forename: Gerben J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Westerhof
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006803:Human Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D013995:Time; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Balanced Time Perspective Scale; Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale; future time perspective; psychological well-being; reminiscence