Exploring the socioeconomic pattern of humans’ future orientation: a multi-method multi-study approach

Abstract

Future Orientation (FO) is a key human capacity that integrates cognitive, affective, and motivational components, crucial for achieving positive outcomes. Although theory posits a consistent link between FO and Socioeconomic Status (SES), empirical evidence remains scarce and fragmented. This research addressed this gap with two main goals. The first was to strengthen the evidence for the SES-FO relationship at the between-subject level. This was achieved through three complementary studies: Study 1 (a coordinated data analysis of sociological surveys using probabilistic samples), Study 2 (analysis of FO-related content in social media posts to increase ecological validity), and Study 3 (experimental manipulation of subjective SES). Beyond these between-subject designs, little research has examined whether and how individuals adjust their FO in response to socioeconomic changes. Thus, the second goal was to investigate whether changes in SES relate to intra-individual changes in FO. The Study 4 used longitudinal data collected before and after the Great Recession (2007-2008) to assess how real-life socioeconomic changes are associated with individuals’ future orientation. Finally, Study 5 validated these longitudinal findings through experimental manipulations within a mixed factorial design. These last two studies indicate that SES fluctuations may lead to corresponding changes in FO, suggesting an adaptive psychological response to socioeconomic adversity. Overall, this research provides new evidence on both between- and within-subject socioeconomic differences in FO.