Mohamad El Haj1,2,3,4, Dimitrios Kapogiannis5, Pascal Antoine6. 1. Nantes Université, Univ Angers, Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL - EA 4638), F-44000, Nantes, France. el.haj@hotmail.fr. 2. Unité de Gériatrie, Centre Hospitalier de Tourcoing, Tourcoing, France. el.haj@hotmail.fr. 3. Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France. el.haj@hotmail.fr. 4. Faculté de Psychologie, LPPL - Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire, Université de Nantes, Chemin de la Censive du Tertre, BP 81227, 44312, Nantes Cedex 3, France. el.haj@hotmail.fr. 5. Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA. 6. CNRS, CHU Lille, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Univ. Lille, F-59000, Lille, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The "time perspectives theory" describes how individuals emphasize some time frames over others (e.g., present vs. future) and thus create their unique approach to time perception. Building on this theory, we investigated three time orientations in Alzheimer's disease (AD): (1) present-hedonistic orientation, which focuses on current sensations and pleasures without considering the future, (2) present-fatalistic orientation, characterized by a bias of hopelessness and helplessness toward the future, and (3) future orientation, which focuses on achieving personal goals and future consequences of present actions. METHODS: Participants with mild AD (n = 30) and controls (n = 33) were assessed with a questionnaire regarding time perspectives and a questionnaire of depression. RESULTS: Results demonstrated low future orientation and high present-fatalistic orientation in AD participants, whereas older adults demonstrated the reverse pattern. Depression positively correlated with fatalistic-present orientation, but negatively correlated with hedonistic-present and future orientations. DISCUSSION: Although our findings are preliminary and the sample size is small, depression in mild AD seems to be related with a fatalistic orientation toward the present, as well as a hopeless and helpless perspective on the future, an orientation that results in little desire to enjoy the present.
BACKGROUND: The "time perspectives theory" describes how individuals emphasize some time frames over others (e.g., present vs. future) and thus create their unique approach to time perception. Building on this theory, we investigated three time orientations in Alzheimer's disease (AD): (1) present-hedonistic orientation, which focuses on current sensations and pleasures without considering the future, (2) present-fatalistic orientation, characterized by a bias of hopelessness and helplessness toward the future, and (3) future orientation, which focuses on achieving personal goals and future consequences of present actions. METHODS:Participants with mild AD (n = 30) and controls (n = 33) were assessed with a questionnaire regarding time perspectives and a questionnaire of depression. RESULTS: Results demonstrated low future orientation and high present-fatalistic orientation in ADparticipants, whereas older adults demonstrated the reverse pattern. Depression positively correlated with fatalistic-present orientation, but negatively correlated with hedonistic-present and future orientations. DISCUSSION: Although our findings are preliminary and the sample size is small, depression in mild AD seems to be related with a fatalistic orientation toward the present, as well as a hopeless and helpless perspective on the future, an orientation that results in little desire to enjoy the present.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease; Depression; Future thinking; Time perspectives
Authors: Sanda Ismail; Emily Dodd; Gary Christopher; Tim Wildschut; Constantine Sedikides; Richard Cheston Journal: Int J Aging Hum Dev Date: 2021-06-10