Health behaviors among college students: the influence of future time perspective and basic psychological need satisfaction.
Health behavior change may prevent many fatal diseases, and may be influenced by social and motivational constructs. We assessed the interaction effect of future time perspective and basic psychological need fulfillment on positive and negative health behaviors. Future time perspective was associated with more positive, and less negative, health behaviors. Need fulfillment was associated with only positive health behaviors. In moderation analyses, individuals reporting both high need fulfillment and future perspective reported greater positive health behaviors, and were especially unlikely to smoke. Enhancing future-mindedness and supporting need satisfaction in interventions targeting modifiable health behaviors is encouraged.
Lawndale Christian Health Center, East Tennessee State University , Johnson City , TN 37614 , USA.
Preston L
PL
Visser
Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University , Johnson City , TN 37614 , USA.
Jameson K
JK
Hirsch
basic psychological needs; future time perspective; health behaviors; self-determination theory