Thinking About the Future: Relationships Between Time Perspective, Peace of Mind, and Goal Navigation Among Young Adults With Cancer.

Abstract

Background: Cancer, particularly during young adulthood, can alter one's perspective about the future, which may play a major role in one's ability to identify new life goals and challenge existing important life goals. Peace of mind (i.e., the ability to find harmony, reach deep down for comfort, and have confidence that things will be okay) may be particularly beneficial in the context of having a negative outlook on the future and goal navigation.

Objective: This study investigated relationships among future negative time perspective (FNTP), peace of mind, and goal navigation among young adults (YAs) with cancer.

Methods: YAs (N=56, M=34.8), recruited through cancer organizations and via the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry, completed measures of FNTP, peace of mind, and goal navigation.

Results: Controlling for relevant covariates, peace of mind moderated the relationship between FNTP and goal navigation (β=0.25, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.04). High FNTP was associated with lower goal navigation, particularly among those with low peace of mind.

Conclusions: The extent to which YAs adopt a FNTP contributes to declines in goal navigation. YAs with low peace of mind might be at heightened risk for the interference of FNTP in anticipating and planning for the future.

Implications for practice: Interventions and clinical care aimed at increasing peace of mind might be particularly helpful in facilitating goal navigation for YAs with negative outlooks for the future.

Foundational: This study contributes to a better understanding of the role of peace of mind on FNTP and navigating goals among YAs with cancer.