Development of a tool to measure subjective time experience

Although variations in time experience in specific health-illness situations have been documented, the information has not been systematically described. This is due in part to lack of reliable and valid measurement of time experience. This article, which reports the development and testing of Time Experience Scales (TES) in a sample of healthy adults, represents preliminary work in the identification of temporal experience in ill persons. Subjective time experience was defined as thoughts and feelings about the temporal frame in which life events occur. Semantic differential and Likert scale items indicated four conceptual dimensions of subjective time experience. A mail questionnaire was distributed to a purposive sample of community-based healthy adults. Data were analyzed separately for men (n = 587) and women (n = 475). Factor analysis methods resulted in the emergence of six robust empirical factors: meaning, fast tempo, slow tempo, attention to death, future orientation, and past orientation. Product moment correlations between scales (.01 to .45) indicated the validity, and coefficient alpha (.68 to .88) the reliability of measurement, using the factors. Results suggest that at least six distinct temporal experiences help people assign order, rhythm, and meaning to life events, thereby creating a continuing and optimal life story. Further reliability and validity testing is suggested.