Do time perspectives moderate the effects of gratitude, savoring and prioritizing positivity on well-being? A test of the temporal match-mismatch model

Abstract

Gratitude, savoring and prioritizing positivity are well-established well-being boosters (WBBs). Burzynska and Stolarski (2020) noted that each of them has a distinct temporal reference: gratitude builds upon the past, savoring refers to the present, whereas prioritizing positivity refers to the future. Their conceptual match-mismatch model posits that a cohesion between one's time perspectives (TPs) and their tendency to use particular WBBs fosters well-being. For instance, gratitude exerts greater influence on well-being if accompanied by a warm, sentimental view of the past. In two studies, we empirically tested the match-mismatch model. Participants (N = 451 and N = 205) completed measures of TPs, WBBs, and well-being. Moderation analyses provided no evidence for synergistic effects of the match between ‘positive’ TPs and respective WBBs in predicting well-being, undermining the match-mismatch model. Interestingly, the interaction between future-positive TP and prioritizing positivity proved opposite to hypothesized, whereas present-hedonistic TP enhanced the effect of prioritizing positivity on well-being. Moreover, interactions between past-negative TP and gratitude, present-fatalistic TP and savoring, and future-negative TP and prioritizing positivity predicted well-being, showing that WBBs may allow to compensate for the undesirable effects of the ‘negative’ TPs. Alternative models proposed by Stolarski and Burzynska may better illustrate the interplay between WBBs and TPs.