Future Time Perspective and Locomotion Jointly Predict Anticipatory Pleasure in Adolescence: An Integrative Hierarchical Model

Objectives: Grounded in Zimbardo’s Time Perspective theory and Regulatory Mode theory, together with developmental accounts of adolescent prospection and value-based choice, this study tests a unified model in which Locomotion (primary) and Future time perspective (secondary) jointly predict Anticipatory Pleasure in adolescence, while considering Assessment, gender, age, and sensation seeking. The goal is to understand how adolescents’ temporal orientation and self-regulation contribute to their motivational and hedonic functioning. Methods: A total of 1540 adolescents (aged 14–19 years) completed validated self-report measures assessing time perspective, regulatory mode (assessment and locomotion), anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, and sensation seeking. Gender differences were examined with independent-samples t-tests, while associations among variables were tested using Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression analyses. Results: Female adolescents reported significantly higher levels of future orientation and anticipatory pleasure, while males showed greater sensation seeking. Future time perspective and locomotion were positively correlated with anticipatory pleasure. In the regression analysis, locomotion emerged as the strongest predictor of anticipatory pleasure, followed by future orientation. Sensation seeking was not a significant predictor. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of future-oriented thinking and action-driven self-regulation in sustaining adolescents’ capacity to anticipate and derive motivation from future experiences. Gender-based motivational pathways are also highlighted, suggesting the need for differentiated developmental interventions. The study provides new insights into the interplay between time-based cognition and motivational dynamics during adolescence.