Maladaptive Daydreaming and Its Relationship with Psychopathological Symptoms, Emotion Regulation, and Problematic Social Networking Sites Use: a Network Analysis Approach

Abstract

The present study investigated the patterns of mutual associations between maladaptive daydreaming-related variables (MD, i.e., interference with life and somatosensory retreat), psychopathological symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, somatization, obsessive–compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, psychoticism), emotion regulation strategies (i.e., cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), and problematic social networking sites use (PSNSU). A total of 531 young adults completed self-report measures through an online survey shared on social network groups. Two network models were performed on 297 young adults with probable MD (MDers) (Mage = 23.2, SD = 2.7) vs. 234 non-MDers (Mage = 23.4, SD = 2.6). Results showed that, compared to non-MDers, MDers showed significantly higher scores in all the study variables, except for cognitive reappraisal. Moreover, in the MDers network, the following patterns were identified: (i) no connections between the cluster of psychopathological symptoms, and neither cognitive reappraisal nor expressive suppression; (ii) a connection, through obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms, between the cluster of psychopathological symptoms and MD-interference with life; and (iii) a connection between PSNSU and MD-interference with life. Accordingly, the Network Comparison Test evidenced that the network structures of MDers vs. non-MDers were significantly different (M = .24; p = .01). Overall, higher scores on psychopathological symptoms in MDers provide support to the assumption that MD is a clinical condition, in which OC symptoms may play a critical role. Additionally, the association of PSNSU and MD-interference with life suggests that MDers might rely on PSNSU as a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy. Under this scenario, MD may be regarded as a potential vulnerability factor for PSNSU.

Longitudinal associations between maladaptive daydreaming and psychological distress during the COVID-19 health crisis

“…Specifically, individuals with an innate tendency for intense absorption and imaginative fantasy are reinforced to progressively replace human interaction with an uncontrollably compulsive involvement in MD ( Somer, Somer, & Jopp, 2016 ). More broadly, our results provide empirical support for the conceptualization of MD as a stable clinical function ( Marcusson-Clavertz, West, Kjell, & Somer, 2019 ) which is characterized by a pervasive and persistent pattern of emotion dysregulation similar to other behavioral addictions ( Chirico et al., 2022 ). This may support the idea that MD is a stable clinical condition or disorder/syndrome ( Somer, Soffer-Dudek, Ross, et al., 2017 ), although we cannot rule out that MD is stable as a symptom which is part of a personality disorder or another clinical syndrome.…”

“…However, to our knowledge, no study has examined MD and its associations with stressful events in long-term longitudinal designs. Addressing this gap is relevant because recent cross-sectional studies have suggested the plausible stability of MD in relation to underlying structures, such as defense styles ( Musetti et al., 2022 ) or attachment styles ( Mariani et al., 2022 ), or dysfunctional patterns of emotion regulation ( Chirico et al., 2022 ; Soffer-Dudek & Somer, 2022 ). Moreover, although previous research has established a positive association between MD and psychological distress ( Soffer-Dudek & Somer, 2018 ), the long-term direction of this effect needs further examination.…”

Failure in reflective functioning as a key factor in the association between problematic social networking sites use, attachment and childhood maltreatment: A network analysis approach on gender differences

“…Therefore, consistent with the compensatory model of problematic Internet use (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014), emerging adults with high attachment anxiety and poorer RF capacities may use SNSs as a maladaptive regulatory strategy in order to mitigate negative affectivity and the perception of the present and past stressful events (Billieux et al, 2015;Boursier et al, 2020). This is especially relevant if one considers that these platforms allow for a cognitively effortless attentional deployment, thus functioning as easily accessible external modalities for emotion regulation (Chirico et al, 2022). Such modalities do not require one to reflect much and could therefore allow for a dampening of the hyperactivating strategies that characterize attachment anxiety.…”

“…Although PSNSU might lead to negative psychological consequences, the behavior is strengthened through negative reinforcement, as individuals might tend to engage in it in order to relieve negative affect and compensate for the emotional turmoil associated with stressful situations (Billieux et al, 2015;Boursier et al, 2020). Past research has shown that the use of SNSs might be a way of evading feelings of loneliness while neglecting interpersonal relationships even more, which might then increase such feelings (Chirico et al, 2022) and lead to ineffective emotion regulation attempts. In other words, some emerging adults can excessively use SNSs in an attempt to regulate negative affect.…”

Navigating the Daydreamscape: An In-Depth Exploration of Maladaptive Daydreaming, Coping Strategies, and Mental Well-Being

“…In recent years, the recognition of maladaptive daydreaming has expanded beyond mere fascination with daydreaming into a focal point in psychological research. Scholars and practitioners have begun recognizing its potential contribution to mental health challenges, prompting a closer examination of its implications for overall well-being and functioning (Chirico et al, 2022).…”