Performance of alcoholics and normals on a measure of temporal orientation

Abstract

PROBLEMThis study investigated the performance of hospitalized alcoholics and normals on a measure of time perspective, the Time Reference Inventory2 (TRI). Specifically, the study attempted to answer the question: Do alcoholics differ from normals in their orientation toward the past, present and future?Alcoholics have been described as dominated by the need for immediate gratification(3* ll. 12. 1 4 ) , pessimism toward the future('O* 17), and inability to maintain long-range goals(7. 8. l6. 17. l 9 ) . It was hypothesized, therefore, that alcoholics would differ from normals in being less concerned with long-range aspects of the future. Alcoholics have also been found to exhibit low ego strength('. 4. 16. '81, resistance to introspection(14. 21), and inability to accept frustration or tensionc2' 3. '9, 20, 23). These characteristics led to the hypothesis that alcoholics mould differ from normals in their orientation toward past and present. Although clinical impressions leading to these hypotheses appear to be generally consistent, experimental verification has been lacking. Clarification of the nature of the temporal orientation of the alcoholic would add significantly to the understanding of the condition and would have implications regarding the relative effectiveness of therapeutic approaches. METHODSubjects. Thirty-five patients (31 males and 4 females) hospitalized in a neuropsychiatric state hospital with a psychiatric diagnosis of alcoholism (E group) were compared with 24 psychiatric aide applicants and 3 hospital volunteers who did not manifest symptoms of psychiatric derangement (C group; 5 males and 22 females). The two groups did not differ in intelligence (mean I& for alcoholics was 95.51, for normals 99.37), age (mean age for alcoholics was 48.20, for normals 47.33), and educational level. A previous exploratory study of 77 normals revealed no significant sex differences on pertinent variables of the TRI.Proczdure. The TRI is a 30-item paper-and-pencil questionnaire designed by the senior author to evaluate temporal orientation ( 1 3 ) . The subject indicates for each item whether it most appropriately refers to his past, present, or future. He then estimates his age at the time he feels the item most appropriately applies. For items selected as applying to the present, he lists his chronological age. The first ten statements refer to pleasant or positive events; the second ten refer to unpleasant or negative events, and the last ten refer to affectively neutral events. The following items from the TRI are representative : Item 1.

A question of balance: Time perspective and well-being in British and Russian samples

“…Later additions, such as Future Anxiety Scale (Zaleski, 1996), the Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (Strathman, Gleicher, Boninger, & Edwards, 1994), the Sensation-Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, 1994) and the Time Structure Questionnaire (Bond & Feather, 1988) have far superior psychometric properties, but still focus on one predominant time orientation, usually the future. Attempts to capture the complexity of temporal orientation in one instrument have ranged from the Time Reference Inventory (Roos & Albers, 1965), the Time Attitude Scale (Nuttin, 1985) and the Time Competence Scale (Shostrom, 1964) through to the Stanford Time Perspective Inventory (Zimbardo, 1990). The later tool deserves a more thorough investigation as a precursor to the now dominant measure of TP, the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory.…”

Complementarity of Space and Time in Distance Representations

“…Other psychological tests used for time perspective measurement either focus on its full complexity, e.g. Time Reference Inventory (Roos & Albers, 1965), Thematic Apperception Test (Wohlford, 1966), Lines Test (Cottle & Pleck, 1969), Circles Test (Cottle, 1976), and Time Attitude Scale (Nuttin, 1985), or they concentrate only on a single dimension, such as present or future, which includes Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, 1994), Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (Strathman, Gleicher, Boninger & Edwards, 1994), and Future Anxiety Scale (Zaleski, 1996). However, none of these tests has gained wider popularity because of their questionable psychometric properties and scoring problems.…”

International studies in time perspective

“…The Time Reference Inventory (Roos & Albers, 1965) Density ( Time Continuity (Collins, 1995) Psychological Well-Being Affect Balance The Affect Balance Scale (Bradburn, 1969) Life Satisfaction The Life Satisfaction Index -Z (Wood et al, 1969) Psychological Distress Depression The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Hertzog et al 1990) Global Index of Distress Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis, 1993) …”

“…It should be noted that only one type of temporal balance contributed to attachment security: the balance of positive experiences, thoughts and feelings across time regions (emotional valence measure derived from TRI, Time Reference Inventory, Roos & Albers, 1965).…”