Future time perspectives and career commitment. Does age influence this? A quantitative examination of a New Zealand working population.

Abstract

The inability to commit to a career can have long-term negative consequences on the quality of life of individuals. Those who have obtained career success have been found to possess high levels of future time perspective, the capacity to not only place a high value on future goals but to also identify what actions are required to achieve future goals. To date, there has been no research conducted examining the relationship between future time perspective and career commitment in a working New Zealand population; nor has any research investigated if there are any differences between different age cohorts of New Zealanders. This study examined this relationship by conducting correlation, regression, analysis of variance, and moderation analyses on data taken from 96 employed New Zealand citizens/residents who participated in an online survey. The correlational analysis suggests that connectedness and valence are positively associated with commitment-making and identification, and negatively associated with self-doubt, and flexibility. Regression analysis suggests that connectedness influences flexibility, and valence influences commitment-making, identification, and flexibility. ANOVA analysis shows that there is a difference between individual’s aged 16 – 44, and 45 – 75+ concerning commitment-making, self-doubt, and flexibility. Moderation analysis results suggest that age has a buffering effect on the relationship between connectedness and self-doubt in those aged 16 – 44 years old, and an enhancing effect in those aged 45 – 74+. Method of participant recruitment, categorisation of age cohorts, and the constraint of this study examining a single time period contribute to this studies limitations. Future research and practical implications of the current study are discussed.