Future time perspective and trust in government: The mediation of the consideration of future consequences

Kuiyun Zhi,Jian Yang,Si Chen,Lingxiang Xia,Yongjin Chen,Meimei Liu,Niyazi Akebaijiang

doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02351-w

Abstract

Evidence suggests that college students’ future-related feelings and cognition may influence their trust in government. This study aims to explore whether the association between college students’ future time perspective and trust in government is mediated through the consideration of future consequences (CFC). A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 1,617 college students (86.6% women) aged 17 to 31 years in China via an online questionnaire. The results showed that the students’ positive, negative and confused future orientation was positively associated with their trust in government. The consideration of far- future consequences positively mediated the relationship between a positive future orientation and trust in government. These findings support the possibility to evaluate college students’ government trust level according to their future orientation, which will improve their positive political participation.

Highlights

College students are in a period of life in which it is essential for them to think about many issues, such as their attitude towards life, survival value and social responsibility (Lattie et al, 2019; Šerek et al, 2018)
Future positive was moderately associated with trust in government (r = 0.33, p < 0.01)
Future positive was moderately associated with consideration of future consequences (CFC)-future (r = 0.40, p < 0.01)

Summary

Introduction

College students are in a period of life in which it is essential for them to think about many issues, such as their attitude towards life, survival value and social responsibility (Lattie et al, 2019; Šerek et al, 2018). Life experiences show that they are more likely to plan for their wonderful future life to pursue educational, occupational and social achievement and even lifelong happiness (Chen, 2006). They lack social experience, college students are considered to shoulder more social responsibility and play increasingly more important roles in political activities and social governance (Rice et al, 2012). Recent studies have increasingly explored the government trust level among college students (Kim, 2019)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion