Time perspective and the satisfaction with life of Polish and Spanish students

Abstract

Objective: To determine if Spanish and Polish students differ in life satisfaction and time perspective and to find if there is a correlation between life satisfaction and perception of time in tested groups. Method: The study involved 160 students (80 of each nationality) aged 19-25. Time perspective was measured with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and life satisfaction was measured with the Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985). We tested differences between groups and studied correlations between satisfaction with life and time perspective. Results: Spanish students exhibited higher satisfaction with life than their Polish counterparts (t=5.7; p=.000). Polish students achieved higher results in present-hedonistic time perspective (t=2.2; p<.05). The past-negative time perspective correlated negatively with life satisfaction (R=-.44; p=.000) and future time perspective correlated positively with life satisfaction (R=.20; p<.05) in Polish students. In both Spanish and Polish groups past-positive time perspective correlated positively with life satisfaction (R=.20; p<.05 and R=.32; p<.05, respectively). Conclusions: In this study the differences between Polish and Spanish students in time perspective and the satisfaction with life has been confirmed.