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Abstract
Time orientation (TO) can be thought of as the psychologic past, present, and future as they exist for and influence the individual (Fink, 1957, p. 414). More specifically, TO is a cognitive process that can affect a vast array of decisions and attitudes. The present study examined TO cross-sectionally, using a sample of undergraduate students, graduate students, community-residing elders, and elders living in retirement homes, in an attempt to clarify its susceptibility to the influence of life circumstances. Attention also was given to the relationship between TO and subjective well-being as a function of life circumstances. Results indicated that TO is a relatively dynamic construct, appearing to differ between individuals on the basis of environmental and developmental demands, and that the specific adaptive or maladaptive influences of various TOs for an individuals well-being are largely situation-dependent.