Self-efficacy beliefs and mental time travel ability: Uncovering a hidden relationship in educational settings

The aim of this study was threefold: first, it was to explore the profiles of student teachers' mental time travel ability; second, it was to examine the relationship between student teachers' mental time travel ability and self-efficacy beliefs; and third, it was to investigate the role of self-efficacy beliefs in relationship between the past and future dimensions of mental time travel ability. Based on the survey method, a total of 260 student teachers participated in the study. Results showed that student teachers' mental time travel ability can well be classified under the headings of high mental time travel ability, medium mental time travel ability, and low mental time travel ability. Results also revealed that student teachers' self-efficacy beliefs vary as a function of their mental time travel ability. More importantly, self-efficacy beliefs played a significant mediating role in relationship between teaching-related past events and teaching-related possible future events. Overall results of the present study suggest that the relationship between mental time travel ability and self-efficacy beliefs makes sense in educational settings.