Transdiagnostic and symptom-domain associations between mental illnesses and future self-connectedness versus future...

Future time perspective dimensions have been linked to various mental illnesses. Given the tendency for mental illnesses to co-occur, it is necessary to disentangle associations between future-oriented constructs and shared versus symptom-domain-specific psychopathology.

After conducting a factor analysis to establish an optimal factor structure of the psychopathology data from Wave 8 of the Zurich Project on Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood study (N = 1180; M _age ≈ 20), this study examined the associations between mental illness dimensions and two future time perspective components: future self-connectedness and future self-valence.

An S-1 bifactor specification was selected for primary interpretation. Both future time perspective components were negatively associated with internalising, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychosis-like dimensions, and substance use, alongside a S-1 aggression factor.

These findings suggest transdiagnostic relevance of self-connectedness and future self-valence but should be considered preliminary given single-item measurement and limited construct coverage. Replication with more comprehensive measures is warranted.