Profiling and relating time perspective, psychological capital and mental health: A person-centred exploration

This study examines the interplay between Time Perspective (TP), Psychological Capital (PsyCap), and mental health, employing a person-centred approach. Latent Profile Analysis of 540 participants identified three clusters for each construct: Balanced, Moderately Balanced and Ill-Balanced TP; High, Moderate, and Low PsyCap; and Optimal, Emergent, and Vulnerable mental health. Balanced TP profiles exhibited higher PsyCap and better mental health. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources theory, moderation analysis revealed that TP profiles significantly moderated the PsyCap-mental health relationship, with Balanced TP strengthening effects by 38%. Mediation analysis demonstrated PsyCap partially mediated the relationship between temporal balance and mental health. Age was the only significant demographic predictor. Findings highlight dual pathways through which temporal balance and PsyCap jointly impact mental health. The implications of the study are discussed in light of the study's findings.