How changes in subjective general health predict future time perspective, and development and generativity motives over the lifespan

Abstract

In this study, we used the lifespan theories of selection optimization and compensation (SOC) and the socio‐emotional selectivity theory (SST) to integrate the disengagement and activity perspectives on aging and to explain intra‐individual changes in work motivation. A two‐wave longitudinal survey study was conducted among 600 Dutch university employees to test relations between intra‐individual changes in subjective general health, future time perspective (FTP), and generativity and development motives. In line with the two lifespan theories, two processes were found. First, consistent with the disengagement perspective on aging, losses in subjective general health negatively predicted open‐ended FTP, and open‐ended FTP was positively associated with an increase in growth motives. Secondly, consistent with the activity perspective on aging, losses in subjective general health positively predicted limited FTP, and limited FTP was positively associated with an increase in generativity motives. In addition, initial open‐ended FTP predicted future open‐ended FTP through a change in subjective general health. Finally, these relations were found to differ across age groups, and thus over the lifespan. More specifically, losses in subjective general health and increases in limited FTP particularly result in lower development motives and higher generativity motives among middle‐aged workers, indicating that interventions aimed at preventing losses in health are probably most effective for maintaining development motives in this group.

Future time perspective and promotion focus as determinants of intraindividual change in work motivation.

“…Our results also extend previous findings by Kooij and Van De Voorde (2011) and others (e.g., Bal et al, 2010;Kooij et al, 2013) by showing the role of promotion focus in mediating the FTP -growth work motives relation.…”

“…As such, the current study contributes to existing knowledge in two ways. First, building on Kooij and Van De Voorde (2011), who found that future time perspective (FTP) is positively associated with growth work motives, this study looks at the mechanisms by which FTP affects growth work motives. Specifically, based on the SOC model and literature (Baltes & Baltes, 1990), we examine the mediating role of promotion focus.…”

The influence of future time perspective on work engagement and job performance: the role of job crafting

“…Therefore, we also distinguish open-ended and limited FTP and we argue that, because of their differential effect on work motives (Carstensen, 1995;Kooij & Van de Voorde, 2011), open-ended and limited FTP are likely to evoke different forms of job crafting, which in turn will influence work engagement and job performance . More specifically, based on socio-emotional selectivity theory (SST) (Carstensen, 1995(Carstensen, , 2006, we argue that employees with an open-ended FTP focus on expanding their long-term breadth of knowledge and thus craft their job by increasing structural and social job resources and challenging job demands that are rewarding to them, whereas employees with a limited FTP focus on experiencing short-term positive emotions, and thus craft their job by decreasing hindering job demands that produce distress.…”

“…Earlier studies distinguished open-ended FTP, referring to individuals' beliefs that they have an open-ended future time full of new goals, plans, and possibilities, and limited FTP, referring to individuals' beliefs that they have a limited future time characterized by constraints, restrictions, and limited possibilities (e.g., Cate & John, 2007;Kooij & Van de Voorde, 2011;Zacher & de Lange, 2011). Therefore, we also distinguish open-ended and limited FTP and we argue that, because of their differential effect on work motives (Carstensen, 1995;Kooij & Van de Voorde, 2011), open-ended and limited FTP are likely to evoke different forms of job crafting, which in turn will influence work engagement and job performance .…”

“…We argue that FTP is an important motivational antecedent of job crafting because the perception of time influences work motives (Kooij & Van de Voorde, 2011) and employees will craft their job in order to make sure it fits with these motives (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001).…”