A Sense of Coherence in the Time Perspective

Abstract

The article examined the ratio of temporal perspective and the components of the sense of coherence that is of particular interest from a position of describing the quality of life experience. In the study we used the time perspective scale developed by F. Zimbardo. The main purpose of this article is to study how such components of coherence as meaningfulness, comprehensibility and manageability of life are reflected on the person’s perception of the spatiotemporal quality of life. The study established significant (positive and negative) correlations between the components of the sense of coherence and time perspective. The study found that the meaningfulness of life as an emotional component is not an indicator of a person's purposefulness or positive emotions in relation to the past and present. But comprehension largely affects the importance of what is happening in the present and in the past. Controllability is rather an indicator of the unity of the life temporary line. The overall level of coherence reflects the level of coherence of the past, present, and future. The subjects who have a more positive attitude to their own past and present, which is under their control, showed a predominance of the level of comprehension and a decrease in the level of meaningfulness. At the same time, an increase in the level of meaningfulness entails a decrease in the focus on the future. But the level of controllability of life depends only on the level of fatalism of the present.