Future Time Perspective in the Work Context: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies

Abstract

A core construct in the lifespan theory of socioemotional selectivity, future time perspective (FTP) refers to individuals’ perceptions of their remaining time in life. Its adaptation to the work context, occupational future time perspective (OFTP), entails workers’ perceptions of remaining time and opportunities in their careers. Over the past decade, several quantitative studies have investigated antecedents and consequences of general FTP and OFTP in the work context (i.e., FTP at work). We systematically review and critically discuss this literature on general FTP (k = 17 studies) and OFTP (k = 16 studies) and highlight implications for future research and practice. Results of our systematic review show that, in addition to its strong negative relationship with age, FTP at work is also associated with other individual (e.g., personality traits) and contextual variables (e.g., job characteristics). Moreover, FTP at work has been shown to mediate and moderate relationships of individual and contextual antecedents with occupational well-being, as well as motivational and behavioral outcomes. As a whole, findings suggest that FTP at work is an important variable in the field of work and aging, and that future research should improve the ways in which FTP at work is measured and results on FTP at work are reported.

Occupational future time perspective: A meta‐analysis of antecedents and outcomes

“…To address this gap, we present results of a meta‐analysis of the OFTP literature to guide future research and organizational practice. Compared to the qualitative literature review of Henry et al (), our quantitative meta‐analysis has at least three notable differences. First, our meta‐analysis quantitatively combines findings from multiple studies into precise estimates of the true population relationships between OFTP and commonly investigated antecedents and outcomes.…”

“…Although a recent qualitative review of studies on OFTP points to the general importance of OFTP in the work context (Henry, Zacher, & Desmette, ), a quantitative synthesis and integration of research on antecedents and outcomes of OFTP is currently lacking. To address this gap, we present results of a meta‐analysis of the OFTP literature to guide future research and organizational practice.…”

“…Researchers have argued that meta‐analyses yield more accurate and credible conclusions than qualitative reviews, which may be consciously or unconsciously biased (Rosenthal & DiMatteo, ). Second, whereas Henry et al () discussed only published research in their qualitative review, we include both published and unpublished data in our meta‐analysis to address the “file drawer problem” (i.e., a bias in the published literature toward statistically significant effects; Rosenthal, ). Finally, using meta‐analytic regression and path analyses, we offer evidence to differentiate OFTP from both chronological age and selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) strategies as a predictor of important work outcomes.…”

Future time perspective: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

“…In this perspective, the individual's experience of future time is posited to play a major role in shaping the goals, plans, and self-regulatory activities that govern action and outcomes with respect to achievement, adjustment, and well-being. Findings by Carstensen (1995), Crotty (2008), Henry, Zacher, and Desmette (2017), and others (e.g., Joireman, Kamdar, Daniels, & Duell, 2006; Strauss, Griffin, & Parker, 2012; Zacher, Heausner, Schmitz, Zwierzanska, & Frese, 2010;Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999) show that the experience of future time also affects a number of key outcomes in work and educational settings, including job performance, proactive work behaviors, school performance, mental health/affective experiences, physical exercise, substance use, and risk behaviors. In an era of globalization, increased competition, and uncertainty (Gagné & Bhave, 2011), the influence of the experience of future time on worker well-being is of growing importance for human resource managers concerned with reducing worker stress and maximizing productivity.…”

Occupational Future Time Perspective: A Meta-Analysis of Antecedents and Outcomes

“…Most studies have operationalized either only one of the two OFTP dimensions (e.g., perceived remaining time, Kooij & Zacher, 2016; e.g., focus on opportunities, Zacher et al, 2010) or have combined all 10 items into an overall OFTP score (e.g., Ho & Yeung, 2016; see Henry et al, 2017, for a review). The combination of these two dimensions into an overall OFTP score can be justified by a relatively strong positive relationship noted in primary studies (e.g., r = 0.60 reported by Zacher & Frese, 2009).…”