Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the specificity of episodic future thinking (EFT) and its relationship with anxiety and depression. It was examined whether EFT specificity had a significant relationship with generalized anxiety, even after controlling the influence of psychological variables highly related to anxiety. Additionally, it was explored which variables influence the level of EFT specificity. The relationship between EFT specificity and depression was investigated, as well. A total of 165 participants (58 male, 107 female, mean age 24.5) were asked to describe future problematic negative situations, problem-solving situations, and positive situations. The responses were coded for specificity using an adapted Autobiographical Interview procedure. GAD-7 and K-CES-D were used to measure generalized anxiety and depression levels. The results of hierarchical regression analysis indicated that EFT specificity of negative situations explained the level of general anxiety, even after controlling the influence of depression and worry. Furthermore, EFT specificity of positive situations predicted the level of depression, but only when anxiety and rumination were not controlled. Notably, it was observed that the longer and more often participants had thought about a particular future situation, the less concrete the content of their elaboration become. Based on these results, the limitations and implications of the study were discussed.