Time perspective profile and self-reported health on the EQ-5D

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Health Services Research
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Time perspective (TP) is a psychological construct linked to health behaviors like diet, smoking, and medication adherence.
• Self-reported health measures, such as the EQ-5D-5L, are influenced by various factors, including psychological ones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between time perspective profiles and self-reported health using the EQ-5D-5L.
• To identify EQ-5D-5L domains exhibiting response heterogeneity (cut-point shift) related to time perspective.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of EQ-5D-5L data from a Hungarian general population sample (n=996).
• Assessment of time perspective using the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (17 items, 5 subscales).
• Statistical analysis using partial proportional odds models and multivariate linear regressions.

Main Results:

• Higher scores in past-negative and present-fatalist TP, and lower scores in present-hedonist and future TP, correlated with reporting more health problems.
• The anxiety/depression domain of the EQ-5D-5L showed significant associations with multiple TP subscales and evidence of cut-point shift.
• Usual activities and pain/discomfort domains also showed associations with specific TP subscales.

Conclusions:

• Psychological characteristics, specifically time perspective, contribute to response heterogeneity in self-reported health.
• Time perspective impacts self-reported health both by influencing underlying health status and by affecting response behavior.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering non-health-related psychological factors in standardized health status assessments.