The Relationship Between Time Perspective and Decision-Making Strategies Among Teachers of Higher Education Institutions Living in a Local Military Conflict Zone

Abstract

Background. The situation of a protracted military conflict along with a high level of uncertainty associated with it put a person in conditions of planning and decision-making with poorly predictable consequences, increase the level of anxiety about the future, and create difficulties in setting long-term goals. Teaching staff of higher educational institutions of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, being part of civilian population of the region, find themselves in a difficult life situation, close to extreme. The ongoing transformations affect various spheres of life and, in this regard, actualize scientific interest in studying the relationship between time perspective and leading decision-making strategies among the region’s population.

Objective. To study the relationship between time perspective and decision-making strategies among the population living in the zone of local military conflict.

Study Participants. Teaching staff of higher educational institutions of the DPR and LPR (N = 1214, 898 women and 316 men).

Methods. Melbourne Decision Making Inventory adapted by T.V. Kornilova, Action Control Scale by D. Kuhl adapted by S.A. Shapkin, Time Perspective Questionnaire by F. Zimbardo. For statistical processing of the data, the study implemented r-Spearman rank correlation method, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov criterion, the T-criterion, the analysis of variance, and the linear regression analysis.

Results. As a result of constructing the regression model, it was revealed that the ability to make independent decisions is influenced by the following factors: Procrastination, Fatalistic Present, Negative Past, Hypervigilance. The tendency to procrastination is influenced by the following factors: Future, Avoidance, Hypervigilance, Realization, Negative Past, Hedonistic Present. The tendency to hypervigilance is influenced by the following factors: Fatalistic Present, Negative Past, Future, Procrastination, Avoidance, Vigilance. The ability to the only productive coping in a decision-making situation — vigilance — is influenced by the following factors: Future, Hypervigilance, Realization.

Regression analysis demonstrated that the ability for independent decision-making is influenced by such factors as “procrastination”, “fatalistic present”, “negative past”, “hypervigilance”; the tendency to procrastination is influenced by the factors “future”, “avoidance”, “hypervigilance”, “realization”, “negative past”, “hedonistic present”; the tendency to hypervigilance is influenced by the factors “fatalistic present”, “negative past”, “future”, “procrastination”, “avoidance”, “vigilance”. The ability for productive coping in a decision-making situation — vigilance is influenced by the factors “future”, “hypervigilance”, “realization”.

Conclusions. The parameters of a person’s time perspective are significantly interconnected with decision-making strategies. In a situation of living in a protracted military conflict zone, negative past experience, hedonistic and fatalistic present determine a person’s choice of non-constructive decision-making strategies: procrastination, avoidance, and hypervigilance. Common “hinders” to making constructive decisions are a negative past that the individual cannot accept and transform into life experience, as well as belief in fate and the inability to control the events of one’s life. The constructive strategy — vigilance is positively associated with a focus on the future and a positive past.

References

Abramov, V.A., Denisov, E.M., Golodenko, O.N. (2015). The feature of mental health and personality resources in individuals affected with chronic stress associated with military actions in the Donbass. Universitetskaya klinika = University Clinic, 11(2), 76–79. (In Russ.)

Avdentova, V.B. (2023). Problem of transformation of the time perspective in an adult in a stressful situation. Universum: psikhologiya i obrazovanie = Universum: Psychology and Education, 1(103), 20–23. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.32743/UniPsy.2023.103.1.14838

Bogachev, A.M., Ermakova, N.G. (2024). The prevalence factor of posttraumatic stress disorders among students of Mariupol. Psikhologiya i Psikhotekhnika = Psychology and Psychotechnics, (2), 1–12. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0722.2024.2.70023

Bogachev, A.M., Vysotskaya, Yu.A., Vintonyuk, T.G. (2024). Psychological features of post-traumatic stress disorder in the civilian population of a region exposed to local military actions (using the example of Mariupol). Klinicheskaya i spetsial’naya psikhologiya = Clinical Psychology and Special Education, 13(3), 216–232. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/cpse.2024130311

Bratukhina, E.A., Bratukhin, A.G. (2024). Peculiarities of time perception with the predominance of tolerance or intolerance to uncertainty. Psikhopedagogika v pravookhranitel’nykh organakh = Psychopedagogy in Law Enforcement, 29(1), 49–55. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24412/1999-6241-2024-196-49-55

Godunov, M.V., Akhmedova, S.N.K., Portnov, E.A. (2024). The specifics of avoiding beha-vior of students in various situations. Nauchno-pedagogicheskoe obozrenie = Pedagogical Review, 2(54), 122–128. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.23951/2307-6127-2024-2-122-128

Gulevich, O.A., Osin, E.N. (2023). Psychological factors underlying attitudes toward war: a theoretical review. Sotsiologiya vlasti = Sociology of Power, 35(1), 31–50. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.22394/2074-0492-2023-1-31-50

Karayani, A.G., Karayani, Yu.M., Kiiko, A.Yu., Utyuganov, A.A., Chekunov, A.A. (2025). The basic model and methods of providing psychological assistance to the wounded. Saint-Petersburg: Military Order of Zhukov Academy of the National Guard of the Russian Federation Publ. (In Russ.)

Kočan, F., Zupančič, R. (2023). Capturing post-conflict anxieties: towards an analytical framework. Peacebuilding, 12(1), 120–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/21647259.2023.2184116

Kornilova, T.V. (2013). Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire: Russian-language adaptation. Psychological Research, 6(31), 4.

Litvin, V.V., Tallibulina, M.T. (2022). Conflict behavior strategies in relation to cognitive attitudes and decision-making style. Vestnik Udmurtskogo universiteta. Seriya Filosofiya. Psikho-logiya. Pedagogika = Bulletin of Udmurt University. Series Philosophy. Psychology. Pedagogy, 32(3), 256–267. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.35634/2412-9550-2022-32-3-256-267

Magazeva, E.A. (2014). The time perspective characteristics with various strategies in a situation of a personal choice. Psikhologiya. Psikhofiziologiya = Psychology. Psychophysiology, 7(2), 15–21. (In Russ.)

Nestik, T.A. (2023). The influence of military conflicts on the psychological state of society: promising areas of research. Social Psychology and Society, 14(4), 5–22. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/sps.2023140401

Novikova, E.V., Revutskaya, I.V. (2018). Psychological features of fears of the civilian population in a situation of military conflict. Vestnik Donetskogo pedagogicheskogo instituta = Bulletin of the Donetsk Pedagogical Institute, (2), 95–104. (In Russ.)

Selezneva, Y.V., Komerova, N.E., Tarasova, A.Yu. (2024). Hardiness and time perception as personality resources of self-regulation. Russian Psychological Journal, 21(3), 75–91. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21702/rpj.2024.3.5

Shapkin, S.A. (1997). Experimental Study of Volitional Processes. Moscow: Smysl Publ.

Shestova, M.A. (2021). Relationship between emotional sphere, tolerance of uncertainty and productive decision-making strategies. Vestnik Samarskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhniche-skogo universiteta. Seriya: Psikhologo-pedagogicheskie nauki = Vestnik of Samara State Technical University. Series: Psychological and Pedagogical Sciences, 18(3), 145–156. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17673/vsgtu-pps.2021.3.10

Smanov, D.A. (2023). Cognitive features and predictors of procrastination. Nauchnyi rezul’tat. Pedagogika i psikhologiya obrazovaniya = Research Result. Pedagogy and Psychology of Education, 9(2), 97–109. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18413/2313-8971-2023-9-2-0-8

Syrtsova, A., Sokolova, E.T., Mitina, O.V. (2008). Adaptation of F. Zimbardo’s Personality Time Perspective Questionnaire. Psychological Journal, (3), 101–109.