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.

Reference: 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.