From daydreaming to dissociation: An exploratory study on the role of thought suppression and dissociation in fantasy prone individuals.

Abstract

Fantasy proneness (FP) is a personality trait associated with dissociation and psychopathology; however, it is also helpful in creative pursuits and part of normative human experiences. This study examined the role of thought suppression factors in the relationship between FP, measured by the Creative Experiences Questionnaire (CEQ), and dissociative experiences, measured by the Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II), in a nonclinical sample (N = 187). Results from a principal component analysis (PCA) supported a two-factor structure of the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), consisting of thought intrusion and suppression effort. Results from a parallel mediation analysis indicated that thought intrusion mediated the relationship between FP and dissociation, while suppression effort did not. Furthermore, the mediation effect of thought intrusion was particularly strong for the relationship between FP and the DES-Taxon (DES-T), a subscale that captures potential pathological dissociative experiences. Our findings provide insight into a mechanism that may connect the adaptive use of fantasy to the development of maladaptive dissociative behaviors.