The "time perspective" becomes increasingly relevant in psychological assessment, but time constraints sometimes prevent the use of the popular Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) in its full extent. This study focuses on short versions (ZTPI–short), comprising 3 items for each scale, 15 items in total (18 when Future-Negative is added). Objectives included testing the psychometric properties of the abbreviated ZTPI and optional balancing of the Future scale with its negative counterpart.

Two modifications were used, the five-scale form, structurally corresponding to the original ZTPI (Past-Negative, Past-Positive, Present-Hedonistic, Present-Fatalistic, and Future scales), and a six-scale adaptation with a Future-Negative scale added. Both versions were verified on nationally representative samples in the Czech Republic and Slovakia (N = 2068).

Psychometric properties proved to be good with or without the Future-Negative scale as corroborated by adequate scale distribution, by consistency (Cronbach's alpha), reliability between short and long versions, validity of short and long versions with respect to the sociodemographic profile, by results of structural equation modeling confirming international invariance in a comparative multigroup perspective as well as good fit (confirmatory factor analysis) of five- and six-factor model for the Czech and Slovak ZTPI–short (separately or with a pooled sample). The five-scale ZTPI–short had a slightly better model fit than the six-scale version, the Future-Negative scale correlated strongly with the Past-Negative scale.

The ZTPI–short is a quality instrument for assessing time perspective and can be recommended for further use.