Predicting Compensatory Health Beliefs from Impulsiveness and Time Perspective

Abstract

Previous research suggests a relationship between impulsiveness and health behavior, time perspective and health behavior, compensatory health beliefs (CHB) and health behavior, as well as CHB and impulsiveness. However, previous research has not evaluated these three variables together. The present study examined the predictive ability that time perspective and impulsiveness have for predicting CHB, in addition to the relationships among all three variables. College students (N =165) voluntarily participated in the study through an online research participant management system. Participants completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), Compensatory Health Beliefs Scale, as well as demographic questions. It was hypothesized that impulsiveness and time perspective scores together would more accurately predict usage of CHB than both variables alone, and that impulsiveness and all five time perspectives would be correlated with CHB. Present-fatalistic time perspective was the only significant predictor of CHB.