Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory

The present study aimed to develop an applicable Chinese version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) and to examine its reliability and validity in national samples of China. We first used the samples of undergraduates to revise the original scale into Chinese version, and then examined the psychometric properties of the revised scale in a lager sample (18 to 65 years old). The revised 25-item scale consists of five subscales assessing Past Positive, Past Negative, Present Impulsive, Present Fatalistic, and Future with a similar factor structure to the original instrument, except that “Present Hedonistic” was renamed as “Present Impulsive”. Internal consistency estimates and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the 25-item ZTPI-Chinese version provided good reliability and the revised five-factor structure had acceptable fitness. Subsequent analyses provided support for invariance across gender and age. Overall, the ZTPI-Chinese version provides a reliable and valid instrument for testing time perspective in Chinese population, thereby facilitating both the study of time perspective in China and cross-cultural comparisons.