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Colton E, Connors M, Mahlberg J, Verdejo-Garcia A. Episodic future thinking improves intertemporal choice and food choice in individuals with higher weight: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2024; 25:e13801. [PMID: 39095999 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Episodic future thinking (EFT) strengthens self-regulation abilities by increasing the perceived value of long-term reinforcements and reducing impulsive choice in delay discounting tasks. As such, EFT interventions have the potential to improve dietary and eating-related decision-making in individuals with obesity or binge eating symptoms, conditions associated with elevated delay discounting. Here, we meta-analyzed evidence from 12 studies that assessed whether EFT interventions improve delay discounting and real-world food choice compared to control interventions. Included studies involved 951 adults with overweight or obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥25). There were no studies involving participants with binge eating disorder. EFT intervention pooled effects were significant, improving delay discounting with a medium effect, g = 0.55, p < 0.0001, and subsequent food choice outcomes with a small effect, g = 0.31, p < 0.01. Notably, our review is the first to analyze mechanisms of effect in this population, demonstrating that improvements were greater when temporal horizons of EFT episodes were aligned with delay discounting tasks and more distant horizons predicted far-transfer to subsequent dietary and eating-related choices. Our findings thus show that EFT is an effective intervention for individuals with higher weight at risk of adverse health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Colton
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mia Connors
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Justin Mahlberg
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Duff N, Olsen R, Walsh Z, Salmon K, Hunt M, Macaskill A. A fragile effect: The influence of episodic memory on delay discounting. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2024:17470218241239289. [PMID: 38429230 DOI: 10.1177/17470218241239289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Delay discounting occurs when a reward loses value as a function of delay. Episodic future thinking (EFT) reliably decreases delay discounting. EFT may share cognitive features with recalling episodic memories such as constructive episodic simulation. We therefore explored whether recalling episodic memories also reduces delay discounting. In Experiment 1, participants wrote about episodic memories and recalled those memories before completing a delay discounting task. Episodic memories reduced delay discounting according to one commonly used delay discounting measure (area under the curve) but not another (using the hyperbolic model). Experiment 2 compared the effects of general and episodic memories. Neither general nor episodic memories significantly decreased delay discounting compared with a control "counting" condition, but episodic memories reduced delay discounting compared with general memories under some conditions. In Experiment 3, episodic memories did not decrease delay discounting compared with three other control conditions while EFT did. Experiment 3 therefore found that thinking must be both episodic and future orientated to reduce delay discounting. Together, these results suggest that episodic thinking is not sufficient to reliably decrease delay discounting, rather, features unique to episodic future thinking are required. Episodic memory might reduce delay discounting in some contexts, but this effect is small and fragile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Duff
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Rebecca Olsen
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Zoe Walsh
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Karen Salmon
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Maree Hunt
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Anne Macaskill
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Brown JM, Stein JS. Putting prospection into practice: Methodological considerations in the use of episodic future thinking to reduce delay discounting and maladaptive health behaviors. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1020171. [PMID: 36408004 PMCID: PMC9669959 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1020171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, episodic future thinking (EFT) has emerged as a promising behavioral intervention to reduce delay discounting or maladaptive health behaviors; however, considerable methodological heterogeneity in methods for eliciting engagement in EFT has been observed in prior research. In this narrative review, we briefly describe methods for generating EFT cues, the content of EFT cues, common control conditions for experiments utilizing EFT, and considerations for cue delivery and implementation. Where possible, we make suggestions for current best practices in each category while identifying gaps in knowledge and potential areas of future research. Finally, we conclude by using the NIH Stage model to better frame the current state of the literature on EFT and propose gaps to be addressed if EFT is to be both an efficacious and effective behavioral intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah Michael Brown
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Scott Stein
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Ye JY, Ding QY, Cui JF, Liu Z, Jia LX, Qin XJ, Xu H, Wang Y. A meta-analysis of the effects of episodic future thinking on delay discounting. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2021; 75:1876-1891. [PMID: 34841982 DOI: 10.1177/17470218211066282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Delay discounting (DD) refers to the phenomenon in which the subjective value of future rewards is reduced over time. There are individual differences in the DD rate, and increased discounting has been observed in those with various psychiatric disorders. Episodic future thinking (EFT) is the act of vividly imagining events that may happen in the future. Studies have shown that EFT could reduce DD, although inconsistent results have been reported. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify the efficacy with which EFT reduces DD and to identify potential moderators. Forty-seven studies (including 63 contrasts) were included in the final analysis. EFT was found to significantly reduce DD (Hedges' g = 0.52). Moderator analysis showed that positive EFT (g = 0.64) was more effective in reducing DD than EFT with the valence not specifically mentioned (g = 0.28) and EFT with neutral or negative valence (g = -0.03). In addition, several factors related to the control task and DD task were related to the efficacy of EFT to reduce DD. These findings have implications for using EFT to reduce DD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Yan Ye
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-Yu Ding
- Teachers' College, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Fang Cui
- Research Center for Information and Statistics, National Institute of Education Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- Teachers' College, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu-Xia Jia
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Qin
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Xu
- Teachers' College, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Harman MJ. The Effects of Time Framing on Compliance to Hypothetical Social-Distancing Policies Related to COVID-19. BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL ISSUES 2021; 30:632-647. [PMID: 38624557 PMCID: PMC7778860 DOI: 10.1007/s42822-020-00041-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The current study analyzed the effects of two frames for durations of time-calendar unit and calendar date-on measures of compliance to hypothetical social-distancing policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants reported the extent to which they would comply with hypothetical social-distancing policies lasting different durations of time. Durations of time were framed as calendar units (e.g., days, weeks, months, years) and calendar dates (i.e., specific dates the policies would extent to). Levels of compliance across durations of time were used to calculate the area under the curve (AuC) for each condition. Social-distancing policies framed in calendar dates yielded significantly greater AuC values compared to social-distancing policies framed in calendar units. Participants' self-reported political affiliation yielded a significant main effect: Conservative participants' AuC values were significantly lower than liberal participants' AuC values. The framing of the duration of time was a significant variable in controlling rates of compliance to hypothetical social-distancing policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Harman
- Department of Psychology, Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, IA 51104 USA
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Ciaramelli E, Sellitto M, Tosarelli G, di Pellegrino G. Imagining Events Alternative to the Present Can Attenuate Delay Discounting. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:269. [PMID: 31920579 PMCID: PMC6923661 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that delay discounting (DD), the tendency to prefer smaller-immediate to larger-delayed rewards, decreases following vivid imagination of future events. Here, we test the hypothesis that imagining complex events alternative to direct (perceptual) experience, whether located in the future, the past, or even the present, would reduce DD. Participants (N = 250) imagined future events (Future condition), remembered past events (Past condition), imagined present events (Present-imagine condition), or reported on the current events (Present-attend condition), and then made a series of intertemporal choices about money and food. Compared to attending to the present, imagining the future reduced DD, but this only held for individuals who claimed vivid pre-experiencing of future events. Importantly, a similar attenuation of DD was found in the Past and Present-imagine conditions, suggesting that a shift in perspective from the perceptual present towards mentally constructed experience can downplay the appraisal of immediate rewards in favor of larger-delayed rewards, regardless of the location of the imagined experience in subjective time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ciaramelli
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- The Centre for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Manuela Sellitto
- Department of Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Giulia Tosarelli
- The Centre for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe di Pellegrino
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- The Centre for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
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Hollis-Hansen K, Seidman J, O'Donnell S, Wedderburn A, Stanar S, Brande S, Epstein LH. An ecological momentary episodic future thinking intervention on mother's weekly food purchases. Health Psychol 2019; 39:159-167. [PMID: 31682147 DOI: 10.1037/hea0000817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Imagining one's own future (episodic future thinking, EFT) has helped mothers with overweight purchase healthier groceries during an online shopping task in the laboratory. The present study explored whether delivering an EFT intervention to participants' devices via an ecological momentary intervention (EMI) tool would help mothers purchase healthier food at brick-and-mortar stores. METHOD Participants (N = 43, mothers 31-52 years of age, BMI ≥ 24.9 kg/m2) were randomized to EFT or standardized episodic thinking (SET). EFT cues include a positive and vivid description of future events while SET cues focus on the recent experience of playing games in the laboratory. Cues were uploaded to participant profiles on an EMI site. Participants were trained on how to read and listen to cues as well as how to detail purchases. Participants received text reminders to listen to cues before shopping and returned with receipts the following day. Receipt data was analyzed to derive dependent variables, calories, and nutrients purchased per person. Correlations were used to analyze associations between study variables of interest, and ANOVAs were conducted to compare dietary variables by group. RESULTS Participants in the EFT group purchased fewer calories, fewer grams of fat, fewer grams of saturated fat, and fewer miligrams of sodium than participants in the SET control group. CONCLUSION Delivering EFT cues to participant devices may be a promising way to improve the calorie and nutrient content of food purchases. Future research should include a longer follow-up and analyze calorie changes over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
| | - Jennifer Seidman
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
| | - Sara O'Donnell
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
| | - Amber Wedderburn
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
| | - Sanja Stanar
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
| | - Spencer Brande
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
| | - Leonard H Epstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
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Hollis-Hansen K, O’Donnell SE, Seidman JS, Brande SJ, Epstein LH. Improvements in episodic future thinking methodology: Establishing a standardized episodic thinking control. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214397. [PMID: 30921384 PMCID: PMC6438451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Delay discounting (DD) is the choice of a smaller immediate reward over a larger delayed reward, which has been associated with a number of maladaptive behaviors. Episodic future thinking (EFT), the ability to project oneself into the future, is an intervention designed to reduce DD. EFT has reliable effects on DD, but the size of the effect varies, which could be due in part to the use of different control groups. Episodic recent thinking (ERT) serves as a common control for many EFT studies, but the temporal window of "recent" cues ranges from 24 hours ago to 12 days past. Since prior research has shown that retrospection can lead to prospection, it may be important to ensure that EFT controls do not inadvertently lead to prospection for some participants thereby increasing the variability of the control condition. The present study sought to develop a comparison group that standardizes the time frame and experiences that are the basis for the recent thinking control. METHODS Participants (n = 53, 18-45) were randomized to one of three conditions: EFT, ERT, or standardized episodic thinking (SET). Participants attended a laboratory appointment where they played mobile application games, created cues, and completed a DD task. RESULTS There was a significant difference between groups (p<0.05), with EFT reducing discounting more than either control (p<0.05), and no differences between ERT and SET (p>0.05). CONCLUSION This study established that SET provides an alternative control in EFT studies and provides the advantage of standardizing the participant's recent experience without changing the relationship between EFT and recent thinking controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen
- Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Sara E. O’Donnell
- Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Jennifer S. Seidman
- Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Spencer J. Brande
- Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Leonard H. Epstein
- Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
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