Phenomenological characteristics of episodic future thinking and their associations with impulsivity and mental health among young adults

Abstract Evidence suggests that mental health problems are associated with difficulties in recalling past events and imagining future experiences, yet the influence of future-oriented cognition on impulsivity remains unclear. This study examined the relationships among episodic future thinking (EFT), mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, and stress), and impulsivity in Bangladeshi young adults. Using a cross-sectional design, participants ( N = 156; M age = 22.82, SD age = 3.11) completed the Bangla versions of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 through online platforms. They also imagined three future events at different temporal distances (one week, one month, and one year) and rated their vividness, importance, temporal closeness, self-relevance, and emotionality. Independent t-tests showed significant age differences in impulsivity and gender differences in anxiety and stress. Mixed ANOVA indicated that individuals with depression perceived future events as less vivid, less important, and less temporally close across all time points compared to those without depression. Regression analyses revealed that vividness was the only significant predictor of impulsivity after controlling for demographics and mental health, with greater vividness associated with lower impulsivity. These findings highlight the role of future-oriented cognition in impulsivity and suggest the potential value of EFT-based interventions.