The connection of life satisfaction with the image of the future in overcoming a difficult life situation

Bratash Ruf' Ivanovna Graduate student; Department of Genetic and Clinical Psychology; Tomsk State University 634050, Russia, Tomsk region, Tomsk, Moskovsky Trakt str., 8 rufina.barhatova12@gmail.com

Emelyanenko Bogdan Olegovich Graduate student; Department of General and Pedagogical Psychology; National Research Tomsk State University 634050, Russia, Tomsk region, Tomsk, Moskovsky Trakt str., 8 bogdan_eme@mail.ru Other publications by this author

Introduction

A number of modern researchers, describing the current social reality, use such a concept as transitivity ^{[1; 2]}, characterizing "the multiplicity of socio-cultural contexts, the constant variability of the surrounding world and its uncertainty" ^{[3, p. 135]}. There is a change in social values, perceptions, norms and attitudes are blurred ^[1], provoking the appearance of various kinds of difficult life situations for a person, overcoming which he uses productive, unproductive and even harmful ways of coping ^[4].

Psychologists define the concept of a "difficult life situation" in different ways (hereinafter referred to as TFS). Some consider this as "a situation that worsens the living conditions of a person, which he cannot overcome on his own" ^{[5, p. 70]}, others as "a situation of inconsistency between aspirations, values, goals and opportunities for their realization, or personality qualities" ^{[6, p. 462]} or as "a situation significantly exceeding the adaptive the potential of a personality, i.e., making demands on a person that exceed his usual resources" ^[7]. We will adopt the following definition of TFS: "this is a significant negative situation, accompanied by anxiety, increased resource costs, lack of control, uncertainty, the need for rapid response, difficulties in forecasting, difficulties in decision-making and recognition of one's own incompetence in resolving it" ^{[8, p. 179]}. With this approach, the situation of admission to a university and adaptation in it can be difficult ^{[8; 9]}, divorce ^[10], a collision with cancer ^[11], etc.

As the researchers point out, TFS is characterized, firstly, by a violation of adaptation, secondly, by the inability to satisfy dominant needs and, thirdly, by the need to develop constructive behaviors ^[12]. However, the situation is difficult only if a person has assessed it for himself as such ^[13], which means that the criteria for resolving TJ are subjective.

Of interest is the question of the specifics of life satisfaction among people experiencing TJ. Life satisfaction, according to E. Diener, is considered as a basic component of subjective well-being, reflecting the cognitive assessment of life ^[14]. Thus, life satisfaction can be characterized as "a general assessment of feelings and attitudes about life at a certain point in time; one of the main indicators of human well-being based on comparing current living conditions with expected standards" ^{[15, p. 17]}. "The more satisfied a person is, the smaller the gap between this ideal position and the real situation" ^{[16, p. 109]}. In turn, the TZHS imposes new conditions on a person, distancing the real situation from the ideal one, which can lead to a decrease in life satisfaction. However, there is no direct link between getting into TZHS and a decrease in life satisfaction. It is noted that the most important role is played by the cognitive assessment of TZHS ^[17]: one can negatively experience the situation, but treats it positively ^[18]. Other researchers emphasize that "for life satisfaction ... it is not so much objective difficulties and the perceived stress associated with them that are important, as personal and social resources for coping with them" ^[19].

Thus, when overcoming TZHS, "the first thing to focus on ... is the availability of internal resources that will help to cope with this situation" ^{[20, p. 56]}, and therefore serve as supports for life satisfaction. D. A. Leontiev characterizes resources as "means, the availability and sufficiency of which contribute to achieving the goal and maintaining well-being, and the absence or insufficiency makes it difficult to achieve the goal and maintain well-being" ^{[21, p. 25]}. Describing psychological resources, D. A. Leontiev allocates sustainability resources, motivational resources, self-regulation resources, instrumental resources and transformation resources ^[21].

Aspects related to the image of the future, that is, "expectations based on the existing experience of the past and on the realities of the present" ^{[22, p. 635]}, can be a motivational resource, providing energy support to overcome TZHS ^[23]. Thus, "our subjective images of the future determine the real course of events" ^{[24, p. 46]}. In addition, researchers characterize the image of the future as "a dynamic psychological education that provides a meaningful certainty of human existence and sets the direction of life" ^{[24, p. 46]}, thereby giving grounds to characterize the image of the future as a resource of self-regulation. In particular, the researchers demonstrated the resourcefulness of positive expectations from the future when overcoming stress resulting from getting into TZHS ^{[25; 26;]}.

It is known that the image of the future of people who have fallen into TZHS has a number of features ^{[22; 27]}. In particular, it is noted that in adolescents who are in TZHS, it can be unformed, unrealistic and distorted ^{[22; 28]}. O. S. Sulim points out that "crisis situations force people to focus on the present ..., often distorting or completely hindering the perception of the future" ^[26]. Other researchers note that in TJS, the image of the future can be associated with positive expectations ^{[25; 29]}, be well-structured and act as a basis for choosing productive coping strategies ^[30].

And although domestic psychologists have considered in detail the resources for overcoming TZHS ^{[7; 9; 10; 13; 19; 31]}, aspects of the image of the future in relation to life satisfaction in a situation of coping with life difficulties have not been sufficiently considered. It is noted, for example, that positive expectations, combined with faith in the surmountability of the situation, are positively associated with life satisfaction in housing and communal services ^[32], but other aspects of the image of the future are poorly specified, although J. Kelly noted that people are mainly focused on future events, and not on the past or present ^[33], thereby showing the resourcefulness of the image of the future. Thus, it seems relevant to study which structures of the expected future in a situation of coping with difficulties form life satisfaction.

The purpose of the study is to identify the links between life satisfaction and the image of the future in people who overcome TJ.

The object of the study: life satisfaction.

The subject of the study is to assess the contribution of various characteristics of the image of the future to life satisfaction in people who overcome TZHS.

The hypothesis of the study was that people who are in the process of overcoming TSH have special significant characteristics in the image of the future, which act as resources for the formation of life satisfaction.

Research methodology

100 people participated in the study. The sample was recruited according to the principle of accessibility (convenience sampling) and it consisted of 57 female and 43 male respondents. The average age is 26.7 years (SD = 9.9 years).

To determine whether the respondent is currently in the TJC, we used open-ended questions followed by a qualitative content analysis of the answers. It should be noted that the use of qualitative methods in the study of difficult life situations is a common practice, since "in general, specially designed standardized questionnaires for studying the perception of TZHS are rare ..., most often cover certain aspects of the representation of TZHS" ^{[34, p. 144]}.

We have formed three open questions. The first question concerned whether the respondents had difficult periods over the past year related to difficulties in understanding themselves, communication, personal development and life in general. We asked the study participants to describe these situations in detail. In the second question, we asked the respondents if, in their opinion, they were able to overcome these difficulties, and if so, at what expense. The third question was a control one, where respondents were asked to write down the "lessons" they had learned from the experience of overcoming difficulties. This question was formed to check the degree of meaningfulness of the experience gained, and if the answer to this question did not follow from the logic of the previous ones, then take a closer look at the answers received from the respondent. However, we have not encountered any such cases.

To assess life satisfaction, the life satisfaction scale of E. Diener was used in the adaptation of E. N. Osin, D. A. Leontiev ^[14], consisting of 5 statements, the summation of points for which forms the overall indicator.

To study the characteristics of the image of the future, we used three methods.

The test of dispositional optimism by C. Carver and M. Scheyer in the adaptation of T. O. Gordeeva, O. A. Sychev, E. N. Osina ^[35]. The methodology consists of 12 statements and contains scales of positive and negative expectations, where positive expectations reflect an optimistic vision of the future, and negative ones reflect a pessimistic one. In addition, there is a generalized indicator of dispositional optimism. It should be noted that the technique is often "used in studies of psychological adaptation and illness" ^{[35, p. 37]}, which led to its inclusion in our study.

The questionnaire "Professional time perspective of the future" X. Tsakhera and M. Freze in the adaptation of T. Y. Bazarov, A.V. Paramuzov ^[36]. The methodology consists of 10 statements that form three scales: focusing on opportunities; focusing on limitations; remaining time, which characterizes the assessment of the prospect of a professional future as limited or unlimited. We used this questionnaire because work occupies an important place in a person's life and serves as an important source of experience, which is important to take into account to characterize life satisfaction.

The method "Index of aspirations" by E. Desi and R. Ryan in adaptation by T. D. Vasilenko, Yu. A. Kotelnikova, A.V. Selina ^[37]. The questionnaire was developed within the framework of the theory of self-determination and contains 35 items forming 7 scales: wealth, attractive appearance, fame, personal growth, relationships, society, health. The first three aspirations are characterized as external, and the rest as internal. In addition, each question is evaluated through three factors: 1. the importance of the goal (Importance); 2. the probability of achieving the goal in the future (Probability); 3. how far the goal has been achieved at the moment (Achievement). The methodology was included in our study because it reflects not only current life aspirations, but also how they are reflected in the image of the future.

The data was collected using the Google Forms service. Qualitative data processing was performed by both co–authors, and quantitative data processing was performed in the JASP 0.18.0.0 program. Descriptive statistics, the Kraskel-Wallis criterion, the Mann-Whitney U-criterion, and multiple regression analysis were used.

The results of the study

At the first stage of the analysis of the data obtained, we analyzed the respondents' answers to open questions and identified groups depending on the experience of overcoming TZHS. In total, we have formed three groups. The first group (Group 1) consisted of 38 respondents who are currently in the TJC (in accordance with our definition of TJC). The second group (Group 2) included 34 respondents who reported that they had recently encountered TZH, but had overcome difficulties by the time of the study. That is, in the second question they answered in the affirmative, and the answer to the third question confirmed it. Those respondents who indicated that they were experiencing two or more independent TCS (in different spheres of life), but had not subjectively overcome at least one by the time of the study, we referred to the first group. The third group (Group 3) was formed from 28 respondents who indicated the absence of any significant difficulties in their lives recently, or described difficulties that could not be attributed to the experience of TSH.

It should be noted that the respondents described a wide variety of TCS. They mainly concerned significant difficulties related to identity and finding one's place in this life (misunderstanding of oneself, what one really wants); difficulties in relationships with partners / loved ones (difficult breakups / divorces, acute lack of communication with loved ones, painful experience of communicating with loved ones); negative experience in work/study (emotional burnout); dealing with the death of loved ones; living with a serious illness. Describing these difficulties, respondents used words such as "anxiety", "fear", "disappointment", "despair", "exhaustion", "loss of meaning", "loss of self-understanding", "aimless existence", "misunderstanding of their goals", "everything collapsed", etc.

Examples of difficulties that the respondents described, but which we did not attribute to the stay of the TJC (and the respondents themselves were assigned to Group 3 by us), since they did not meet all the requirements of our definition of TJC, were problems in communication with colleagues or financial difficulties without indicating a subjectively significant negative assessment of situations, academic debts in the educational activities , etc .

Next, we determined the average values in each group according to the scales of the methods. The results are presented in Tables 1 and 2 (the values according to the "Aspiration Index" method were placed in a separate table due to the complex structure of the questionnaire).

Table 1 – The average values of groups of respondents with different experiences of coping with TZHS according to the methods "Life satisfaction scale", "Test of dispositional optimism", "Professional time perspective of the future".

Table 2 – The average values of the groups of respondents with different experiences of coping with FGM using the "Aspiration Index" method.

Further, a comparative analysis of the indicators of respondents from different groups according to the scales of methods was carried out (Table 3). The Kraskel-Wallis criterion was used, and where values of p≤0.05 were obtained, the Mann-Whitney U-criterion was used to find differences between specific groups. Since the groups were compared by a large number of variables, it was decided to enter differences in the table only for those variables where the values according to the Kraskel-Wallis criterion were at the level of p≤0.05.

Table 3 – Results of a comparative analysis of life satisfaction and aspects of the image of the future among groups of respondents with different experiences of coping with TZHS.

Note: the table shows comparative characteristics only on those scales where the Kraskel-Wallis criterion showed differences at the level of p≤0.05; for the Mann-Whitney criterion, the effect value was determined by rank biserial correlation (these effect values are presented if the Mann-Whitney criterion showed differences at the level of p≤0.05).

Thus, it was revealed that groups that differ in the experience of living with TZHS have multiple significant differences in the severity of life satisfaction and expectations from the future.

The group of respondents who are currently in the housing and communal services has significantly lower life satisfaction indicators than the other two groups. In addition, respondents from Group 1 have a more pessimistic vision of their future and a more limited time perspective in the professional field. At the same time, respondents who have already coped with TZHS (Group 2) have less pronounced negative expectations of the future, see fewer obstacles to development in the professional sphere and at the same time believe that they will continue to grow personally in the future. And the respondents from Group 3 do not have any pronounced features compared to Group 2: they are more satisfied with life than the representatives of Group 1, but about the same as the respondents from Group 2. The picture is similar in assessing the future.

Next, we used multiple regression analysis to assess the contribution of various aspects of the image of the future to life satisfaction in groups with different experiences of coping with TJ. We built a separate model for each technique, because we wanted to evaluate the independent contribution of various variables. However, in the Test of dispositional optimism, we used only the general indicator of dispositional optimism, because, as the authors of the adaptation of the methodology write: "there are no convincing theoretical justifications for the two-factor nature of optimism/pessimism" ^{[35, p. 58]}. And for the "Aspiration Index" methodology, three different models were built separately for the factors "Importance", "Probability" and "Achievement". When constructing the regression, we used the forced inclusion method. For a more visual correlation of the contribution of predictors to life satisfaction, the data for the three groups are presented in Table 4 one after the other for each method.

Table 4 – Aspects of the image of the future, as predictors of life satisfaction, in groups of respondents with different experiences of coping with TSH.

Note. The table shows only significant predictors.

Regression analysis has shown that for Group 1, whose respondents are in the process of overcoming TFS, various aspects of the image of the future really act as resources for the formation of life satisfaction. Positive expectations from the future in general and in the professional sphere in particular provide support in the present. In addition, the central aspect of life in the housing and communal services for respondents is the desire to feel healthy, and positive relationships with loved ones are the most important resource. So, on the one hand, existing relationships give respondents stability in overcoming TJ, and the belief that in the future relationships will serve as a source of positive experience gives energy in the present.

The picture is different in the other two groups that are not in the TJC. Life satisfaction in these groups is determined by factors that are not based on the image of the future. Only "Focusing on opportunities" in the professional field in Group 2 was a significant predictor.

Discussion of the results

The results obtained confirm the hypothesis put forward by us that respondents who are in the process of overcoming TFS have features in the image of the future that act as resources for the formation of life satisfaction. Such resources were, firstly, a generalized positive expectation of the future, the hope for good events in the future. It can be argued that this is a universal support when living through significant difficulties, since "people make efforts to overcome difficulties in order to achieve their goals only as long as their expectations of future success are favorable enough" ^{[35, p. 37]}. And in general, there is a large amount of data indicating a close relationship between optimism and psychological well-being ^{[38; 39]}.

Secondly, it was revealed that positive expectations specifically in the professional sphere serve as a resource for overcoming difficulties. Focusing on opportunities, striving to achieve goals in the workplace gives energy when living in a home. Let's return to this below.

Thirdly, the desire to maintain constructive relationships with loved ones is another important resource for coping with TJS. And since the "Aspiration Index" methodology is based on the theory of the content of goals – one of the mini-theories of the theory of self-determination by E. Desi and R. Ryan ^[40], the data obtained are well described by another mini–theory - the theory of the existence of three basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and connectedness, the satisfaction of which is the basis of psychological well-being ^[40]. That is, as it was found in our study, in TJS respondents find support in close relationships with significant people not only in the present, but also believe that the relationship will be beneficial in the future.

In addition, the need for competence may underlie the resourcing of the professional sphere described earlier. So a person, focusing on opportunities in the work environment, can perceive them through the prism of permissibility in the future to show their best qualities, to show their effectiveness. And thus, the professional future is perceived as a space that allows you to unlock your potential.

A different picture was obtained in Group 2, whose respondents had previously encountered FGM, but subjectively overcame it, as well as in Group 3, where respondents had not encountered FGM recently. For the participants of these groups, the image of the future has almost no contribution to the assessment of life satisfaction, and life satisfaction itself is based on other factors. The results obtained can be explained by the fact that, as the researchers note, the image of the future can simultaneously act as a space filled with active actions where you can realize yourself, but also difficulties, problems that will need to be solved, thereby creating cognitive dissonance, which does not allow us to talk about an unambiguous connection between the perceived future and life satisfaction ^[41]. And if the respondents of Group 1 acutely feel the need for changes, knowing that this will benefit, forming resourcing in the image of the future, then the respondents of Group 2 and Group 3 are generally adapted to life and feel well-being based on existing experience.

In addition, the results obtained when comparing the groups, namely for Group 2, whose respondents have already overcome TJC, deserve attention. Thus, it was revealed that the participants of this group have a level of life satisfaction about the same as that of the representatives of Group 3, however, they have significantly lower negative expectations of the future, and these participants have a markedly pronounced expectation of personal growth in the future. Thus, the data are definitely consistent with what researchers call post-traumatic growth, that is, "experiencing positive changes as a result of encountering difficult life circumstances" ^{[42, p. 356]}.

Conclusion

In this study, TSH was characterized as a significant negative situation, which is accompanied by anxiety, feelings of uncontrollability and uncertainty, as well as difficulties in making decisions. Although overcoming such a situation requires significant efforts from a person, it is not always accompanied by a decrease in life satisfaction. Cognitive assessment of the situation, as well as available resources, play a crucial role.

A number of aspects of the image of the future have already been described by researchers as resources for maintaining life satisfaction in housing and communal services. In the conducted study, a number of other characteristics of the image of the future were found related to life satisfaction in the conditions of housing and communal services.

First of all, we identified groups of respondents based on the experience of encountering difficult life situations and overcoming them. These groups differed significantly in terms of life satisfaction and the severity of various aspects of the image of the future.

Further, it was found that in a situation of overcoming significant difficulties, generalized positive expectations from the future, focusing on opportunities in a professional environment, focusing on building close relationships with significant people, act as resources of life satisfaction.

However, for respondents who are not directly in a situation of overcoming TZHS, aspects of the image of the future do not act as resources for the formation of life satisfaction.

The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that the results can be used in the framework of psychological counseling for clients who are in TZHS. Thus, the image of the future can act as a powerful motivational resource in solving urgent life problems and increasing life satisfaction. At the same time, the formation of positive expectations from the future is an important target of psychological intervention in counseling clients living in conditions of housing and communal services.

Further research on this topic can be devoted to the study of specific TCS, namely, general and particular patterns of the relationship between life satisfaction and the image of the future. It is necessary to analyze in more detail the features of the contribution of various characteristics of the image of the future to life satisfaction, depending on the type of TJ, subjective assessment of difficulties and orientations of coping with TJ. In addition, researchers have already proposed various typologies of TFS ^{[8; 18]}, as well as ways to assess subjective difficulties ^[43] and coping orientations ^[34].