Generativity across adulthood: how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagement

Objective The motivation to leave a legacy for future generations and society’s continuity is an important aspect of adult development. However, the shorter time horizon that comes with ageing might lead to prioritising more immediately rewarding goals than long-term society-beneficial (e.g., climat...

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Main Authors: Selma Korlat, Christina Ristl, Jana Nikitin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Australian Journal of Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00049530.2024.2428306
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author Selma Korlat
Christina Ristl
Jana Nikitin
author_facet Selma Korlat
Christina Ristl
Jana Nikitin
author_sort Selma Korlat
collection DOAJ
description Objective The motivation to leave a legacy for future generations and society’s continuity is an important aspect of adult development. However, the shorter time horizon that comes with ageing might lead to prioritising more immediately rewarding goals than long-term society-beneficial (e.g., climate-proactive) goals. This study investigates the role of nature exposure and future time perspective, as well as their joint interplay in the context of social and ecological generativity across adulthood.Method In total, 115 individuals aged 18–85 years (M = 38.10 years, SD = 16.53 years, age-range 18-85; 67% female) participated in an experience sampling study and reported their future time perspective and social and ecological generativity at the baseline, and nature exposure in their daily situations.Results The results of the analyses using aggregated data set showed that nature exposure facilitates the concern for future generations and the environment in middle-aged and older (but not in younger) adults with shorter future time perspective.Conclusion Nature exposure can be used to enhance motivation for societal involvement in middle and older adulthood, which in turn could contribute to the well-being and sustainability of future generations.
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issn 0004-9530
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Australian Journal of Psychology
spelling doaj-art-89dae736f2044f1880090af76d260f9c2025-08-20T02:30:36ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAustralian Journal of Psychology0004-95301742-95362024-12-0176110.1080/00049530.2024.2428306Generativity across adulthood: how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagementSelma Korlat0Christina Ristl1Jana Nikitin2Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaObjective The motivation to leave a legacy for future generations and society’s continuity is an important aspect of adult development. However, the shorter time horizon that comes with ageing might lead to prioritising more immediately rewarding goals than long-term society-beneficial (e.g., climate-proactive) goals. This study investigates the role of nature exposure and future time perspective, as well as their joint interplay in the context of social and ecological generativity across adulthood.Method In total, 115 individuals aged 18–85 years (M = 38.10 years, SD = 16.53 years, age-range 18-85; 67% female) participated in an experience sampling study and reported their future time perspective and social and ecological generativity at the baseline, and nature exposure in their daily situations.Results The results of the analyses using aggregated data set showed that nature exposure facilitates the concern for future generations and the environment in middle-aged and older (but not in younger) adults with shorter future time perspective.Conclusion Nature exposure can be used to enhance motivation for societal involvement in middle and older adulthood, which in turn could contribute to the well-being and sustainability of future generations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00049530.2024.2428306Social generativityecological generativitynature exposurefuture time perspectiveadulthood
spellingShingle Selma Korlat
Christina Ristl
Jana Nikitin
Generativity across adulthood: how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagement
Australian Journal of Psychology
Social generativity
ecological generativity
nature exposure
future time perspective
adulthood
title Generativity across adulthood: how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagement
title_full Generativity across adulthood: how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagement
title_fullStr Generativity across adulthood: how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagement
title_full_unstemmed Generativity across adulthood: how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagement
title_short Generativity across adulthood: how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagement
title_sort generativity across adulthood how nature exposure and future time perspective shape motivation for social and ecological engagement
topic Social generativity
ecological generativity
nature exposure
future time perspective
adulthood
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00049530.2024.2428306
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AT christinaristl generativityacrossadulthoodhownatureexposureandfuturetimeperspectiveshapemotivationforsocialandecologicalengagement
AT jananikitin generativityacrossadulthoodhownatureexposureandfuturetimeperspectiveshapemotivationforsocialandecologicalengagement