Future Orientation and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescence: Two Multiple-Step Models

This chapter examines the relationship between future orientation and psychological well-being by developing and testing two multiple-step models. One model advances future orientation as an antecedent of positive psychological functioning, while the other postulates positive self-feelings to be an antecedent of future orientation. Empirical tests using data collected from Israeli adolescents show that support of each model rests on the conceptualization of psychological well-being. Particularly, the model future orientation → psychological well-being fits data pertaining to behavioral indicators of positive psychological functioning. The model psychological well-being → future orientation fits data pertaining to subjective positive feelings. The chapter concludes with comments on culture and future orientation domain specificity, and offers directions for further research and interventions.