Interconnection of personality self-affirmation strategy with time perspective

Abstract

Relevance. Self-affirmation is integral to the development of individuals who are socially active, possess distinct viewpoints, and can defend their beliefs. Understanding the interplay between self-affirmation strategies and time perspective is crucial for psychological interventions.Purpose. The study aimed to explore the relationship between different self-affirmation strategies (constructive, dominant, and self-suppression) and the temporal perspectives of individuals.Methodology. Employing the "Strategies of self-affirmation of personality" (N.E. Kharlamenkova and E.P. Nikitin) and "The Time Perspective of Personality" (F. Zimbardo) questionnaires, we analyzed the responses from university students across several institutions and years. This comparative analysis allowed us to categorize the students based on their predominant self-affirmation strategy and to examine the association between these strategies and their perspectives on time.Results. The results showed distinct correlation patterns between self-affirmation strategies and various dimensions of time perspective. Students employing a constructive strategy frequently aligned with positive past and future-oriented perspectives. In contrast, those with a dominant strategy were more future-oriented but less positive about the past. Those with a self-suppression strategy tended to have a more negative view of the past.Conclusions. The findings highlight the significance of tailoring psychological interventions to align with the individual�s dominant self-affirmation strategy and time perspective. This tailored approach can enhance the effectiveness of programs designed to foster healthier self-affirmation practices among young adults.