Phd in DYNAMIC AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Thesis title: Prospettiva Temporale: prove empiriche e implicazioni cliniche nei giovani adulti

This doctoral dissertation aims to investigate the clinical relevance of the construct of time perspective in the population of young adults, with particular reference to its implications for psychological adjustment and emotional regulation processes. The first chapter outlines the theoretical framework of reference, through the presentation and comparison of the conceptual models of time perspective, as well as the most commonly used measurement scales for assessing the construct in clinical and research contexts. The empirical operationalization of time attitudes is examined in depth, integrated with a critical review of the literature on different lines of research that have explored their implications for mental health. The following chapters present two longitudinal studies and one cross-sectional study, aimed at investigating the modifiability of time attitudes and their association with emotional regulation strategies in samples of young adults. The first study examined the effectiveness of a psychodynamic counseling intervention in modifying temporal attitudes, comparing a clinical group with a waitlist control group. The results showed an increase in positive attitudes toward the present and the future and a decrease in negative attitudes toward the present, indicating a significant impact of the intervention. The second study extends and confirms the previous results by investigating the long-term stability of these changes. The data show that the positive effects on the present and the future are maintained up to three months after the conclusion of the intervention. The third study shows that participants belonging to positive/balanced profiles of time attitudes are associated with greater cognitive reappraisal and lower expressive suppression, whereas negative profiles show the opposite pattern, confirming the influence of time perspective on emotional regulation in young adults. In conclusion, the results of the three studies highlight the clinical relevance of time perspective in young adults, both as an indicator of psychological adjustment and as a factor influencing emotional regulation strategies. The data suggest that interventions aimed at promoting positive time attitudes may foster more adaptive emotional functioning, supporting the development of preventive and intervention strategies in university and clinical contexts.