Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of 20-Item Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (C-ZTPI-20) in Chinese Adolescent Population

Ying Chen; Tzu-Hsuan Liu; Yiwei Xia; Zhihao Ma

doi:10.2147/PRBM.S436735

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of 20-Item Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (C-ZTPI-20) in Chinese Adolescent Population

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024 Mar 20:17:1271-1282. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S436735. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Ying Chen¹, Tzu-Hsuan Liu², Yiwei Xia³, Zhihao Ma⁴

Affiliations

¹ Sports Institute, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, People's Republic of China.
² School of Political Science and Public Administration, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, People's Republic of China.
³ School of Law, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Computational Communication Collaboratory, School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Background: This study assesses the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (C-ZTPI-20) in an adolescent population.

Methods: The investigation encompasses a sample of 2634 middle school students from China and aims to evaluate the instrument's reliability, structural validity, measurement invariance, criterion validity, and network structure attributes.

Results: First, descriptive analysis revealed satisfactory reliabilities for four out of five C-ZTPI-20 dimensions, with Present Fatalistic (PF) exhibiting relatively low reliability. Moreover, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported the 5-dimensional structure across all samples and sexes, albeit with a modest Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) for girls. Furthermore, measurement invariance analysis underscores unbiased assessment across sexes. Sex differences emerge in the Present Hedonistic (PH) dimension, where boys showed higher scores. Furthermore, criteria validity analysis revealed that Past Positive (PP) and Future (F) were positively associated with extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, grit, and mental health, while they were negatively associated with neuroticism. Past Negative (PN) and PF showed inverse trends, while PH perspective demonstrated complex, varied correlations with these psychological traits, underscoring the multifaceted nature of time perspectives. Finally, network analysis revealed positive inter-correlations within dimensions and significant edge differences between sexes, particularly in inter-dimension connections. Despite differing rankings, the most central and marginal items remained consistent between boys and girls in network models.

Conclusion: These findings contribute to understanding the C-ZTPI-20's effectiveness in assessing adolescent time perspectives and inform interventions promoting psychological well-being and coping strategies.

Keywords: Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory; measurement invariance; network analysis; psychometric properties; time perspective.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Major Project of The National Social Science Fund of China (Grant No. 19ZDA324) and the Project of Social Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. 21XWC010).