Depressive symptoms and intertemporal decision-making in adolescents: the indirect role of future self-continuity.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms may be associated with adolescents' tendency to prioritise immediate rewards over delayed outcomes, yet the psychological processes underlying this association remain unclear. Future self-continuity, defined as the perceived connection between one's present and future selves, may be one such mechanism. This study examined whether future self-continuity mediated the association between depressive mood and intertemporal decision-making in adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 352 adolescents from two schools in China. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, future self-continuity was measured using the Future Self-Continuity Questionnaire, and intertemporal decision-making was assessed using a classic intertemporal choice task. Pearson correlation analyses and mediation analysis were conducted. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with future self-continuity and intertemporal decision-making, whereas future self-continuity was positively associated with intertemporal decision-making. Mediation analysis showed that future self-continuity significantly mediated the association between depressive mood and intertemporal decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that lower future self-continuity may be one psychological factor linking depressive symptoms to adolescents' stronger preference for immediate over delayed rewards. Interventions aimed at strengthening adolescents' sense of connection with their future selves may help support more future-oriented decision-making.