The Associations between Time Perspective and Psychological Difficulties: Sample with and without Traumatic Tendency

Traumatic events may have long lasting consequences on physical and psychological well-being by influencing appraisal processes, behavioral and neural reactivity. Moreover, exposure to traumatic events might have adverse intergenerational consequences. The aim of the present study had been to explore Time Perspectives (TP), that is individuals link their behavior to their past, present, and future, is associated with vulnerability to post traumatic stress disorder and psychological difficulties on two different sample groups; a theoretically traumatic group (N= 50; age range= 49-70), whom their parent had gone missing during the war of Cyprus and their offspring (N=50, age range= 26-40 years); and a theoretically non-traumatic group with no missing parent, (N= 50; age range years= 46-69) and their offspring, (N=50, age range years= 20-39). Current study also examined the intergenerational transmission of TP and PTSD. Purposeful sampling technique was used. Turkish adaptation version of Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory were used as measurement tools. Result of the study revealed that parents’ PTSD symptoms and TP were associated with their offspring. Participants whom have a relative gone missing during the war had higher PTSD score compared to the participants whom have no missing relative. Overall, findings of the current study provide an important contribution to studies on intergenerational transmission of temporal categories and PTSD. Keywords: Time Perspectives, PTSD, Psychological Difficulties, War Trauma, Cyprus.