Measuring daily time experience: development and validation of the Seven-Dimensional Time Quality of Life Scale

Background: Mental health assessment has traditionally relied on symptom-based measures of depression and anxiety. Although widely used, such measures may overlook individuals' everyday experiences and lifestyle contexts that are closely related to psychological well-being. Grounded in the Seven-Dimensional Time Theory (SDTT), the present study aimed to develop and validate the Seven-Dimensional Time Quality of Life Scale (SDT-QoLS) to assess the overall quality of daily time experience. Methods: Using a convenience sampling approach, participants aged 12-65 years were recruited from a psychiatric outpatient setting. Scale items were generated through literature review, qualitative interviews, and expert evaluation. A total of 608 valid questionnaires were included in the analyses. The sample was randomly divided into two subsamples for exploratory factor analysis (EFA; n = 304) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; n = 304). Factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity were examined. Results: EFA supported a unidimensional structure of the SDT-QoLS, accounting for 58.90% of the common variance. CFA indicated an acceptable model fit. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.906). SDT-QoLS scores were positively associated with mental well-being and negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and general psychological distress. Conclusion: The SDT-QoLS provides a brief and psychometrically sound measure of subjective daily time quality. By focusing on everyday time experience rather than psychological symptoms, the scale may complement existing mental health assessments and support research and practice in mental health promotion.