title: The limits of a limited future time perspective in explaining age differences in emotional functioning.
abstract: Although a limited future time perspective (FTP) has been theorized to be the underlying mechanism of positive emotional functioning later in life, there is scant empirical evidence for this position. Using an integrative data-analytic approach, we investigated the predictive value of FTP, age, and subjective health in explaining emotional functioning in a sample of 2,504 adults (17 to 87 years, M = 35.5, SD = 14.2). Although older adults reported a more limited FTP than younger adults, age and a limited FTP had opposite effects in predicting subjective well-being, affect, positive emotions, empathy, and attitudes toward emotions. That is, old age was linked to a more adaptive emotional profile, whereas a limited FTP was linked to a more maladaptive emotional profile. This was the case even after controlling for health-related aspects. The findings question the usage of FTP as an explanatory variable for observed age differences in emotional functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grühn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University.
authors.forename: Neika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharifian
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University.
authors.forename: Qiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004645:Empathy / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013998:Time Perception / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult