Perceptions of time and partner preference across adulthood: examining socio-emotional selectivity theory in physical activity
Date
2005-09
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Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
One psychological construct that can be used to explain why people have
difficulty maintaining a physically active lifestyle is time perspective (Hall & Fong,
2003). Perceptions of time have important implications for emotion, cognition, and
motivation (Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles, 1999). The Socio-Emotional Selectivity
Theory (SEST) is a life span theory of social motivation in which perceptions of time are
linked to the selection and pursuit of social goals and the subsequent preferences for
social partners. There is a lack of research that examines the SEST in other contexts and
the physical activity setting provides a unique setting because of the health benefits it
provides. Thus, the purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between
individual perceptions of time and partner preference across adulthood, and more
specifically, to test the predictions of the Socio-Emotional Selectivity Theory (SEST) in
physical activity. The sample consisted of 95 participants between the ages of 19 and 93
(M age = 51.5, SD = 20.2). Each participant completed a questionnaire package that
contained a demographics section (age, gender, household income, etc.), ratings of
physical and mental health, physical activity measures (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise
Questionnaire, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, Physical Activity Rating), Future
Time Perspective Scale (FTP; Carstensen & Lang, 1995), Time Perspective
Questionnaire (TPQ; Fong & Hall, 2003 ), and a preferred context of exercise question.
In addition, each participant completed card-sorting tasks designed to identify whom
each participant would prefer to be physically active with if given the choice and to
identify whom each participant was currently physically active with. Using the FTP, bivariate correlations showed a significant negative relationship between age and
perceptions of time (r = -.87, p < 0.05), a significant positive relationship between
physical activity and time perspective (r = .64, p < 0.05), and between age and physical
activity (r = -.46, p < 0.05). When examining the relationship between perceptions of
time and partner preference, partial support for the SEST was shown. There were three
knowledgeable (e.g., "An interesting stranger") and two formal partners (e.g., "A
personal trainer") that were preferred by people with an expansive perception of time,
which showed support for the SEST. However, one knowledgeable partner ("A clergy
person") and one formal partner ("A medical doctor") were preferred by those with a
limited perception of time, which contradicts the SEST. Also, in contrast, the
family/relative partners were expected to be preferred by those with a limited perception
of time; however, results showed that these partners were preferred by all regardless of
age. Also, three friend/acquaintance partners were preferred by people with an expansive
perception of time, which contradicts the SEST. Finally, the controversial partners
revealed no significant result, which does not lend support to the SEST. This study also
had the opportunity to examine actual physical activity partners. Results revealed a
relationship between perceptions of time and actual physical activity partners for 5 out
of the 18 partner cards. When examining the relationships between the preferred
physical activity partners and the actual partners, 7 out of 18 partners showed a
significant relationship. In addition, a significant relationship was found between the two
time perspective scales (r =.51, p < 0.01). In conclusion, time perspective seems to be
an important factor to consider in predicting partner preference in physical activity.
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
College of Kinesiology
Program
College of Kinesiology