Time Perspective and Perceived Risk as Related to Mammography Screening

The present study explored the relation of time perspective to perceived risk for breast cancer and mammography screening. Women free from breast cancer (N=194), eligible for mammography screening in terms of age, completed the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999) and measures of perceived risk, attitude toward performing mammography screening, intention to get a mammogram, and mammography screening behavior. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived risk of breast cancer (= .18, p < .01) and intention to be screened ( = .35, p < .01) were significantly associated with mammography screening, after controlling for the effects of sociodemographic (e.g., age, education, and economic level) and health-related variables (e.g., family history of breast cancer and previous benign breast disease). Path analyses including the main psychological variables indicated that perceived risk was indirectly related to intention via attitude ( = .17, p < .01), and to mammography screening through attitude and intention ( = .06, p < .01). Attitude was indirectly related to mammography screening via intention ( = .20, p < .01). Also, a significant indirect association was observed between future orientation and mammography screening, via perceived risk ( = .10, p < .01). Theoretical implications of study findings and suggestions for future research on use of mammography are presented.