Personality traits, future time perspective and adaptive behavior in adolescence.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Future Time Perspective (FTP) is linked to individual success, but its mediating role between personality and behavior is under-researched.
• Understanding how personality traits influence adolescent school life requires examining potential mediators like FTP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mediating role of Future Time Perspective (FTP) in the relationship between adolescent personality traits and school life.
• To analyze how specific PSY-5 personality dimensions influence school achievement, social integration, and satisfaction through FTP.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 351 adolescents (14-18 years) completed the MMPI-A (PSY-5 dimensions), an FTP questionnaire, and a school life survey.
• Statistical analysis examined the mediating effects of FTP on the relationships between personality traits (Aggressiveness, Psychoticism, Disconstraint, Introversion) and school outcomes.

Main Results:

• Future Time Perspective (FTP) significantly mediated the influence of Disconstraint, Introversion, Psychoticism, and Aggressiveness on various school life variables.
• Specific mediations included FTP's role in Disconstraint's effect on satisfaction and achievement, Introversion's effect on social difficulties and extracurriculars, and Psychoticism/Aggressiveness's impact on satisfaction, difficulties, and behavior problems.
• Neuroticism did not show significant mediation effects.

Conclusions:

• Future Time Perspective (FTP) plays a crucial mediating role in how adolescent personality traits impact school adaptation, including achievement and social integration.
• Interventions targeting FTP may enhance school outcomes by mitigating negative personality influences.