Does deviation from a balanced time perspective meaningfully relate to alcohol use and symptoms of anxiety and depression? Comparing results using DBTP and DBTP-r

Abstract

Time perspective research examines the way in which thoughts and/or feelings about the past, present, and future influence behavior, and deviation from a balanced time perspective (DBTP) has been suggested to be functionally disadvantageous. Recently a revised formula (DBTP-r) was suggested for the derivation of DBTP scores. The present study examined the relationship between self-reported alcohol use and both symptoms of anxiety and depression, with scores on the DBTP and the DBTP-r. Participants (N = 940, 48.09% Male) were recruited as part of a University project and completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. In analyses adjusted for age and sex, DBTP and DBTP-r performed similarly in relation to mental health symptomatology, while only DBTP-r was significantly related to alcohol use. In more adjusted models, more variance was explained in DBTP-r models although neither DBTP score was significantly related to either alcohol use or symptomatology scores when they were operationalised categorically. DBTP-r appears to discriminate better than DBTP, with the caveat that this is the first study to compare them.