Future Time Perspective and Satisfaction with Life in a Sample of Parolees

MIKULIC ISABEL MARÍA; CRESPI MELINA

Ciudad del Cabo

Congreso; 30º Congreso Internacional de Psicología; 2012

Unión Internacional de Ciencia Psicológica

Future time perspective can be understood as the mental representation of objects located in the future. Under the relevance of this variable in the study of social reintegration of persons who have regained their freedom, is proposed in this research to analyze the Future Time Perspective in a sample of parolees. It also seeks to assess the degree of association between time perspective and level of life satisfaction experienced by this population. A descriptive-correlational, transverse, has been developed. The sample consisted of 140 adults on parole. The variables of gender, crime and time of discharge from prison were controlled. Were administered: a) Sociodemographic questionnaires. b) A questionnaire to assess future time perspective, specially built in this study. The same integrated dimensions: goals, temporal extension, planning, evaluation and temporary attitude. c) Satisfaction with Life Scale by Pavot and Diener (1993). The average number of goals mentioned by participants is 2 (SD = 0.7). The goals are largely concentrated in the categories of personal accomplishment (getting a job) and material possessions (obtaining property such as cars, housing and money). A temporary extension of the proposed goals focuses in the open present (from now on) rather than in the distant future. Regarding the planning of goals, the results show a low degree of knowledge about how to achieve them and a small amount of shares effectively mobilized for obtaining. The temporal analysis of attitudes shows a predominantly negative attitude toward the past and present, and positive toward the future. Data also show the existence of association between temporal attitude and satisfaction with life. The life satisfaction also correlates with the type of goals and the amount of stock and resources available for their achievement. The results indicate the existence of a limited future perspective, characterized by low amount of goals, and mobilized resources and actions to achieve them. The data provide evidence for the close relationship between future time perspective, temporal attitude and satisfaction with life. It is interesting to continue investigating the role these variables have in terms of adequate social reintegration or recidivism in the crime.