Problem solving: Helping understand why future orientation regulates emotion and benefits performances

The present study examined whether future orientation can regulate emotions and benefit performance among employees and students and tested the mediation effect of planning in certain processes. In Study 1, a 3-wave assessment of future orientation, job burnout, and job engagement was conducted with 180 participants. Results showed that future orientation is positively related to job engagement, but negatively related to job burnout. In addition, planning serves as a mediator in the relationship between future orientation and job engagement and between future orientation and job burnout. In Study 2, 193 participants completed scales measuring the effects of future orientation, planning, task completion, and mood. Results showed that planning serves as a mediator in the relationship between future orientation and positive affect, between future orientation and negative affect, and between future orientation and academic performance. This research provides evidence that future orientation prepares individuals to successfully cope with stress through problem-solving strategies. Our findings that future orientation helps people cope with future barriers through planning highlight the importance of future orientation in the improvement of performance for either employees or students.