Testing Future Thinking Task in Russian-Speaking Sample

Abstract

The goal of this preliminary study was to carry out adaption of the Future Thinking Task (FTT) in 4 comparison groups: women without addictions and with normative anxiety and depression levels (n = 30); women with high levels of anxiety (n = 20); men without addictions and with normative anxiety and depression levels (n = 32); men with addiction (n = 23). We expected to find a number of specific differences between groups in terms of their FT parameters (thematic content and FT fluency) using the framework of FTT. Methods: FTT; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; phonemic verbal fluency task (PVF); AUDIT, the alcohol use screening test; content analysis; mathematical methods. Results and conclusions: We found differences between the control male sample and the clinical group of addicts, as well as between the community female samples with high and normal anxiety levels. Women with high anxiety had a greater number of negative future events. Patients with addictions had a reduced number of positive future events and total events across different time periods, and especially in the short term. The decrease in the number of positive short-term events may be explained by a greater self-destructive potential of addicts. The results reflect recognized specific features of addicted and anxious people’s FT. The findings on the correlations between PVF and FT fluency which were found in the male groups exclusively need additional verification. The data obtained allow us to infer that the Russian version of FTT can be used for research purposes.