The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted various professions, altering perceptions and attitudes towards future prospects and job satisfaction. Despite extensive research across various professions, the specific effects on college... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted various professions, altering perceptions and attitudes towards future prospects and job satisfaction. Despite extensive research across various professions, the specific effects on college professors' future time perspective (FTP) and job satisfaction remain underexplored. This study investigates how the pandemic has influenced FTP and job satisfaction among 30 college professors in Turkey. Participants completed FTP Scale to evaluate perceptions of future opportunities and limitations, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire for job satisfaction, a single-item life satisfaction scale, a two-item subjective health scale, and demographic information capturing academic background and perceived social status via Google Forms. The study used a within-subject design, tracking perception changes by having participants complete assessments from different temporal perspectives before and after the pandemic during the same scale set within a single assessment session. After adjusting for pre-COVID measures, post-COVID FTP was not significantly associated with job satisfaction (β = 0.95, p > .05), while pre-COVID job satisfaction was a strong predictor of current levels (β = 5.39, p < .05). Additionally, controlling for pre-COVID FTP, post-COVID FTP was positively associated with current life satisfaction (β = 1.96, p < .001), and pre-COVID life satisfaction was a strong predictor of current levels (β = 0.67, p < .05). For health perception, there was no significant link to pre-COVID health (β = 0.12, p > .05); however, a significant positive association emerged with post-COVID FTP after controlling for previous levels (β = 0.81, p < .05). These results revealed significant associations between post-COVID FTP and both life satisfaction and health perception, suggesting that a forward-looking view can positively influence well-being after a crisis. The lack of significant findings regarding job satisfaction may be attributed to the fact that the majority of the professors (N=25) reported satisfaction with their university's COVID-19 policy, potentially influencing the results.
