Development and Validation of a Future Self-Continuity Questionnaire: A Preliminary Report

Future self-continuity, the sense of persistence of selfhood from the present to the future, is a fundamental feature of personal identity. Decreased self-continuity between the present and future self is associated with disadvantageous behaviors and increased psychopathology. The primary aim of the series of studies reported in this article was to develop and assess the psychometric properties and validity of an instrument designed to measure present to future self-continuity, the Future Self-Continuity Questionnaire (FSCQ). Exploratory factor analysis techniques were used to select items for removal and inclusion and to develop a potential factor model. Confirmatory factor analysis techniques were then employed to demonstrate model fit across 4 independent samples of adults (N = 1,481). Data are also presented demonstrating convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity. Findings support the coherence of the FSCQ, indicating the scale has adequate test-retest reliability, concurrent and discriminant validity, and an internally consistent replicable factor structure related to the construct of future self-continuity and relevant indexes including levels of consideration of future consequences, temporal discounting, depression, hopelessness, suicidality, anhedonia, and subjective quality of life.