Dimensions of Maladaptive Daydreaming: Examining the Roles of Emotion Regulation, Loneliness and Life Satisfaction

Description

Page: 164-171

Tanvee Shukla and Mamata Mahapatra (Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh)

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a compulsive mental activity characterized by immersive, narrative-driven fantasies that disrupt daily functioning. Although emotional regulation difficulties have been identified as a key antecedent of MD, the processes by which emotional dysregulation interacts with social factors remain unclear. This study examined the relationships among emotion regulation difficulties, perceived stress, loneliness, life satisfaction, and MD in a non‑clinical sample of 215 young adults (both male & female). Participants completed the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive associations between emotional regulation difficulties, perceived stress and loneliness with MD. Multiple regression indicated that emotional regulation difficulties accounted for a substantial proportion of variance in MD, with loneliness strengthening and life satisfaction weakening this effect. Mediation analyses showed that loneliness partially mediated the effect of emotional regulation difficulties on MD, whereas life satisfaction served as a partial protective mediator. Perceived stress did not emerge as a significant predictor. These findings underscore the multidimensional nature of MD, demonstrating that social perceptions of isolation and subjective well‑being jointly influence its severity.