Dark Future Scale

Are your thoughts about the future clouded by anxiety? Take this science-backed test to find out.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | December 9, 2025

Future anxiety refers to the distress individuals may feel when imagining negative events that may happen in the near or distant future. Unlike ordinary worry about upcoming tasks or responsibilities, future anxiety is typically broader and more persistent. It often involves vague but troubling expectations about what could possibly go wrong in one's life, or even within the world at large. People with high levels of future anxiety tend to get caught in cycles of rumination, as they spend ample time anticipating misfortunes that may well never occur.

Recognizing and understanding future anxiety is important, as it can severely undermine one's well-being, relationships and decision-making. When someone is constantly bracing for the worst, they may struggle to stay present or make long-term plans. Left unchecked, this kind of mindset can lead to heightened stress and avoidance behaviors. In severe cases, it may even give rise to symptoms of anxiety disorders.

The Dark Future Scale was developed as a reliable tool to measure this tendency. By asking individuals to reflect on statements that capture anxious attitudes toward the future, the scale offers insight into just how strongly these fears are actively shaping sufferers' outlooks. By measuring how much future anxiety you might be experiencing with this scale, you simultaneously take the first step toward addressing it constructively.

You can take this test here. Follow all of the steps to receive your results.

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. I am afraid that the problems which trouble me now will continue for a long time.

2. I am terrified by the thought that I might sometimes face life's crises or difficulties.

3. I am afraid that in the future my life will change for the worse.

4. I am afraid that changes in the economic and political situation will threaten my future.

5. I am disturbed by the thought that in the future I won't be able to realize my goals.

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores to people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.

References: Zaleski, Z., Sobol-Kwapinska, M., Przepiorka, A., & Meisner, M. (2017). Development and validation of the Dark Future scale. Time & Society, 28(1), 107–23. doi:10.1177/0961463X16678257