Developmental Crises and Psychological Well-Being Across Adulthood: The Role of Balanced Time Perspective and Self-Regulatory Resources

Background: Developmental crises are psychologically significant life transitions that may involve heightened emotional vulnerability, identity uncertainty, and social disconnection, but they can also present opportunities for reflection, reorientation, and psychological growth throughout adulthood. Balanced Time Perspective (BTP) has been linked to resilience and well-being, yet its buffering role during crises remains underexplored. Understanding how intrapersonal and interpersonal self-regulatory resources interact with BTP across the lifespan offers important insight into adaptive functioning. Objectives: This study examined BTP as a psychological resource that supports well-being in the face of developmental crises. Drawing on lifespan developmental theory, emotion regulation models, and time perspective frameworks, it investigated how intrapersonal and interpersonal processes mediate the relationship between BTP and psychological well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 403 adults (aged 18–65+) completed validated self-report measures assessing Balanced Time Perspective (BTP), developmental crisis intensity, emotion regulation, self-awareness, social awareness, and social functioning. Psychological well-being was measured using two indicators: life satisfaction (hedonic well-being) and flourishing (eudaimonic well-being). Statistical analyses included ANOVA, hierarchical regression, parallel mediation, and moderated mediation models using generalized linear modeling and the PROCESS macro. Complementing the quantitative analyses, a thematic analysis was conducted on responses to two open-ended questions, which captured participants’ narratives about the emotional experiences associated with developmental crises. Results: Balanced Time Perspective (BTP) significantly predicted both flourishing and life satisfaction, with stronger associations observed in younger adults and weaker or non-significant ones in older adults. Intrapersonal factors—self-awareness, social awareness, and cognitive reappraisal—partially mediated the link between BTP and flourishing. Among these, only self-awareness consistently mediated the relationship with life satisfaction. At the interpersonal level, social connectedness emerged as a strong mediator for both outcomes, while social inclusion did not contribute independently. Age differences were evident: younger adults benefited from both interpersonal resources, whereas older adults benefited mainly from social connectedness. BTP also appeared to buffer the negative effects of developmental crisis intensity on life satisfaction in younger adults, though this effect was not found in older adults or in relation to flourishing. While individuals with higher BTP tended to report greater use of emotion regulation strategies and social awareness overall, these strengths did not appear to protect against the impact of high crisis intensity. Unexpectedly, higher BTP was associated with lower social awareness during intense crisis periods. BTP did not moderate the effects of crisis on social inclusion or connectedness. Conclusion: Findings position Balanced Time Perspective (BTP) as a developmentally sensitive resilience resource that fosters psychological well-being and facilitates adaptive functioning during periods of crisis. Its protective influence is most pronounced in early adulthood and is mediated by regulatory processes that evolve across the lifespan. These results highlight the need for age-responsive strategies that strengthen temporal balance and bolster both self-regulatory and social capacities in the face of developmental adversity. Theoretically, the study offers an integrative perspective linking time orientation, emotional regulation, and lifespan development. From an applied point of view, it also underscores the potential of tailored interventions that promote BTP as a foundation for mental health across adulthood.