Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes Research Articles

Writing to your past-self can make you feel better.

Self-compassionate writing has been shown to be helpful for improving the mental state in some individuals. Here, we investigated how the writer's attitude toward his/her past, present and future and the focus of the writing, i.e., social experience in the past versus self-experience, modulate these effects. In Experiment 1, 150 undergraduates wrote a compassionate letter to their past-self and to their future-self and responded to the Japanese version of the Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes (ATI-TA) questionnaire. Writing to past-self decreased negative feelings more than writing to future-self. Further, participants who had negative feelings toward their past, present, and future, as assessed by the ATI-TA, were more likely to be emotionally affected by writing a letter to their past-self. In Experiment 2, 31 undergraduates wrote a letter focusing on what they had experienced together with someone, and another 31 undergraduates wrote focusing on what they had experienced alone. Focusing on a social experience was more helpful for recovering from negative feelings than focusing on a self-experience. In conclusion, writing a compassionate letter to one's past-self can improve mood, especially in individuals with a negative time attitude who focus their writing on a social connection.

Using the Adolescent Time Inventory—Time Attitudes (ATI-TA) to assess time attitudes in Italian adolescents and young adults: Psychometric properties and validity

Time attitudes (TA) are evaluative feelings toward the past, present and future. Given the role of TA in psychological and behavioral outcomes, the aim of this study was to analyze the adequacy of the Adolescent Time Inventory—Time Attitudes (ATI-TA) scale among adolescents and young adults in Italy. The scale was administered to 638 students in order to test its psychometric properties and validity. The analyses confirmed the adequacy of the six-factor model and the reliability of the subscales. Additionally, the measurement invariance of the scale across genders and age groups (between adolescents up to the age of 18, and young adults above 18) was demonstrated. Specifically, gender invariance reached the level of equivalence of error variances/covariances, and the same level was partially reached for invariance across age groups. Evidence of the validity of the scale was also provided by obtaining significant correlations between the subscales, and self-esteem and strategic learning. Taken together, these results support the suitability of the ATI-TA to be used for research and clinical purposes.

Psychometric properties of Adolescent Time Inventory Time Attitude (ATI-TA) scores in three waves of longitudinal data.

Within the broad area of time perspective, there are numerous narrower or more specific constructs. One of these, time attitudes, is said to refer to an individual's emotional and evaluative feelings toward the past, the present, and the future. Scores on the Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes Scale (ATI-TA) have been shown to be psychometrically sound in a range of cross-sectional studies in different cultural contexts. The present study is the first longitudinal (3 waves) examination of these scores. Participants consisted of 2 samples of adolescents (NS1 = 1,148; NS2 = 464) participating in a study in the United Kingdom. They were 12.5 years old during the first data collection period, with Waves 2 and 3 being 1 and 2 years later, respectively. Results show that at each time point, scores were internally consistent and the hypothesized 6-factor model provided the best fit for the data with factor coefficients in the moderate to strong range. Results also demonstrate configural, scalar, and metric invariance of scores by gender and sample at each time point, and configural invariance across time points. Participants were more positive than negative about the past, present, and future at each time point. (PsycINFO Database Record

"Temporal attitudes profile transition among adolescents: A longitudinal examination using mover-stayer latent transition analysis": Correction to Morgan et al. (2016).

Reports an error in "Temporal attitudes profile transition among adolescents: A longitudinal examination using mover-stayer latent transition analysis" by Grant B. Morgan, Kevin E. Wells, James R. Andretta and Michael T. McKay (Psychological Assessment, Advanced Online Publication, Sep 5, 2016, np). In the article, the affiliation for Michael T. McKay should be Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool. All versions of this article have been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2016-42727-001.) Over the last 20 years, the study of Temporal Psychology and its relationship with a range of psychosocial indicators has increased exponentially. The present study makes use of recent advances in analytic methods and uses statistical inference via longitudinal examination of latent profiles through Latent Transition Analyses (LTA). The first 2 available waves of data from a longitudinal study in the United Kingdom were used to assess the following: (a) the factor structure of Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes Scale (ATAS) scores at Waves 1 and 2, (b) the viability of time attitudes profiles based on ATAS scores at both time points, (c) the degree of stability and/or transition between membership of these profiles at +12 months, and (d) the relationship between profiles and scores on 4 distal outcomes, including academic, social and emotional self-efficacy, and sensation seeking. Four latent profiles called Positives, Ambivalents, Negatives, and Negative-Futures were identified and their relationship with the 4 distal outcomes was examined. Results showed that time attitude profiles were unstable across the first year of high school. Furthermore, instability was explained by transitions to more negative profiles, and these transitions were associated with unfavorable outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record

Temporal attitudes profile transition among adolescents: A longitudinal examination using mover−stayer latent transition analysis.

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 29(7) of Psychological Assessment (see record 2016-47183-001). In the article, the affiliation for Michael T. McKay should be Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool. All versions of this article have been corrected.] Over the last 20 years, the study of Temporal Psychology and its relationship with a range of psychosocial indicators has increased exponentially. The present study makes use of recent advances in analytic methods and uses statistical inference via longitudinal examination of latent profiles through Latent Transition Analyses (LTA). The first 2 available waves of data from a longitudinal study in the United Kingdom were used to assess the following: (a) the factor structure of Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes Scale (ATAS) scores at Waves 1 and 2, (b) the viability of time attitudes profiles based on ATAS scores at both time points, (c) the degree of stability and/or transition between membership of these profiles at +12 months, and (d) the relationship between profiles and scores on 4 distal outcomes, including academic, social and emotional self-efficacy, and sensation seeking. Four latent profiles called Positives, Ambivalents, Negatives, and Negative-Futures were identified and their relationship with the 4 distal outcomes was examined. Results showed that time attitude profiles were unstable across the first year of high school. Furthermore, instability was explained by transitions to more negative profiles, and these transitions were associated with unfavorable outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record

What time is it? Temporal psychology measures relate differently to alcohol-related health outcomes

Background: Scores on temporal psychology measures continue to be associated with alcohol-related problems; however, few studies have examined these associations using more than one temporal psychology instrument. This omission is potentially problematic as not all instruments measure the same dimensions of temporal psychology. The present study aimed to address this gap in the literature.Methods: Participants (N = 410) were opportunistically sampled from a University in the United Kingdom and completed the following questionnaires: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; The Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory; The Temporal Focus Scale; The Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes Scale; and The Consideration of Future Consequences Scale-14.Results: Results showed weak to moderate correlations (with one exception, CFC-F and ZTPI-F) between scores on the various temporal scales, indicating that they measure related but distinct constructs. Structural equation modelling and linear regression revealed that AUDIT scores were most strongly associated with present hedonism, symptoms of anxiety were most strongly associated with negative feelings about the present, and symptoms of depression were more moderately associated with a broader range of indicators.Conclusions: Cognitive and affective dimensions of temporal psychology relate differently to different health outcomes, and researchers need to be explicit and clear in reporting findings.

The Japanese Version of the Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes (ATI-TA) Scale: Internal Consistency, Structural Validity, and Convergent Validity.

In this study, we translated the Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes (ATI-TA) scale into Japanese and examined the internal consistency and structural and convergent validity of ATI-TA scores in a sample of 383 Japanese high school students aged 15 to 18 years. The ATI-TA consists of six subscales assessing two valences (positive and negative) for each of three time periods (past, present, and future). Internal consistency estimates for scores on the ATI-TA were over .79. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a six-factor model yielded the best fit to scores. Correlations among ATI-TA scores, time attitudes assessed by the semantic differential method, educational career planning, and self-esteem were consistent with our hypotheses. Our results provide evidence that scores on the Japanese version of the ATI-TA are reliable and valid, and thus potentially useful for research in this cultural context.

An exploratory examination of the viability and meaningfulness of time attitudes profiles in adults

The temporal psychology literature has developed in recent years, both in terms of the volume of studies, and the sophistication of analyses. One area of particular interest is time attitudes, the way in which individuals feel about the past, present and future. Recently, results supporting the psychometric validity and internal consistency of Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes scores in adults have emerged. In the present study, person-centered analyses supported the viability of time attitudes profiles in an adult sample (N=410), and showed that membership of those profiles related to a range of other temporal measures and symptoms of psychopathology. Five profiles emerged, two of which were associated with favorable outcomes such as a focus on the future alongside the lowest levels of depression (Positives and Optimists), two which were associated with unfavorable outcomes such as the highest levels of anxiety coupled with prominent fatalistic attitudes (Pessimists and Negatives), and a profile with outcomes falling between the poles (Ambivalents). It was noted that profiles were not related to alcohol-related problems.

Psychometric properties of time attitude scores in young, middle, and older adult samples

In an effort to provide a measure of time perspective that can be used across the life-span, we examined the psychometric properties of the Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitude Scale (ATI-TA; Mello & Worrell, 2007) in three independent samples of young (N=388), middle (N=201), and older adults (N=189). Results provided strong psychometric evidence that the ATI-TA can be used appropriately with individuals across adolescence and adulthood. Specifically, internal consistency estimates indicated that scores on the six subscales (Past Positive, Past Negative, Present Positive, Present Negative, Future Positive, & Future Negative) were reliable across the three samples. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the theorized six-factor structure had acceptable fit and fit the data better than alternate models. Subsequent analyses provided support for invariance across young, middle, and older adults. Overall, these results show that the ATI-TA yields reliable scores and a valid structure across adulthood and can be used to measure time perspective throughout the life-span.

Demographic Differences in Adolescent Time Attitude Profiles in an Urban High School: A Person-Oriented Analysis Using Model-Based Clustering

The purpose of the study was to use model-based clustering to identify adolescent time attitude profiles in a sample of students from an urban high school using Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitude (ATI-TA) scores and to examine the association of ATI-TA profiles with demographic variables and grade point average (GPA). Three ATI-TA profiles were identified— Positives, Ambivalent, and Conflicted—two of which were similar to clusters identified in previous studies. Results indicated that gender and grade were not associated with cluster membership. However, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and GPA were related to cluster membership. Although overall effect sizes for socioeconomic status and ethnicity were small, post-hoc analyses suggested that differences among ethnic groups should be investigated further. There were substantial GPA differences between some clusters (Cohen’s d = .36 – 1.27). Future directions for research on adolescent time attitude profiles should include in-depth studies examining the relationship between profile membership and achievement and longitudinal studies to observe whether time attitude profile membership changes over time.

Reliability and factorial validity of Adolescent Time Inventory–Time Attitude (ATI-TA) Scores in Scottish and Northern Irish adolescents

The contemporary literature investigating the construct broadly known as time perspective is replete with methodological and conceptual concerns. These concerns focus on the reliability and factorial validity of measurement tools, and the sample-specific modification of scales. These issues continue to hamper the development of this potentially useful psychological construct. An emerging body of evidence has supported the six-factor structure of scores on the Adolescent Time Inventory–Time Attitudes Scale, as well as their reliability. The present study utilized data from the first wave of a longitudinal study in the United Kingdom to examine the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural invariance of the scale. Results showed that the hypothesized six-factor model provided the best fit for the data; all alpha and omega estimates were >.70; scores on ATI-TA factors related meaningfully to self-efficacy scores; and the factor structure was invariant across both research sites. Results are discussed in the context of the extant temporal literature.

Opening address

The temporal psychology literature has developed in recent years, both in terms of the volume of studies, and the sophistication of analyses. One area of particular interest is time attitudes, the way in which individuals feel about the past, present and future. Recently, results supporting the psychometric validity and internal consistency of Adolescent Time Inventory-Time Attitudes scores in adults have emerged. In the present study, person-centered analyses supported the viability of time attitudes profiles in an adult sample (N = 410), and showed that membership of those profiles related to a range of other temporal measures and symptoms of psychopathology. Five profiles emerged, two of which were associated with favorable outcomes such as a focus on the future alongside the lowest levels of depression (Positives and Optimists), two which were associated with unfavorable outcomes such as the highest levels of anxiety coupled with prominent fatalistic attitudes (Pessimists and Negatives), and a profile with outcomes falling between the poles (Ambivalents). It was noted that profiles were not related to alcohol-related problems.