Time Perspective in Healthy Individuals and Patients Suffering from Cancer and Diabetes

Introduction: Time orientation can significantly improve health-related prevention behaviour and influence disease outcome through boosting health-oriented behaviour. This study aims to compare time perspective between diabetic and cancerous patients, and healthy people. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 300 patients (105 healthy, 195 patients: 108 type 2 diabetes and 87 breast and digestive system cancer) aged 20 to 70 years (average age of 45.4 years). The samples were separated into three groups based on a convenience sampling method and were matched in terms of gender, age, education and monthly income. Data was collected through the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI-56) questionnaire and then evaluated with analysis of covariance (F test) followed by Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. Results: The three groups showed different time perspectives (F = 4.213, p < 0.05) and different ranking in time orientation. Conclusion: Our findings show that the disease and its type can significantly impact the time orientation of patients. Therefore, to prevent potential subsequent outcomes, the patients’ time perspective towards disease should be improved, especially under disease conditions.