Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task
Published on: January 9, 2016
Time perspective in socioeconomic inequalities in smoking and body mass index
1Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. j.m.adams@ncl.ac.uk
Objective:
To determine if time perspective plays a mediating role in the relationship between socio-economic position (SEP) and both smoking and body mass index (BMI).
Design:
2000 adults aged 18 years and over were randomly selected from the edited electoral register for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and sent a postal questionnaire. Two reminders were sent.
Main Outcome Measures:
Socio-economic position was measured using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) of the area of residence. Time perspective was measured using the Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (CFCS). Smoking and BMI were self-reported.
Results:
Full data was available for 804 individuals (response rate: 40.2%). After controlling for age, gender and health status, IMD was significantly associated with BMI, smoking status and CFCS score (p < .001), and CFCS score was significantly associated with BMI (p < .001), but not smoking status. There was evidence that CFCS score played a partial mediating role in the relationship between IMD and BMI but not that between IMD and smoking status.
Conclusion:
Further longitudinal work is required to confirm the mediating role of time perspective in socio-economic inequalities in BMI. Interventions tailored to individuals time perspective may be effective in reducing obesity and socio-economic inequalities in obesity.
Related Concept Videos
Longitudinal Research
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Cross-Sectional Research
Observational Studies
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...