The Mediating Role of Dissociation and Shame in the Relationship Between Emotional Trauma and Maladaptive Daydreaming

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a clinical condition in which an extensive fantasy activity replaces human interactions and generates impairments in work and relationships. In this study, we aim to observe the role of emotional trauma, shame, and dissociation in MD. We recruited a group of 162 self-diagnosed maladaptive daydreamers (women: N = 135, 83.3%), aged 18 to 54, in an online MD group. Participants filled out a survey, including measures of MD, dissociation, traumatic experiences and shame. A multiple mediation model showed that dissociation and shame fully mediated the relationship between emotional trauma and MD severity in the sample. These findings suggest that people suffering from MD may benefit from clinical interventions that address their tendencies to absorb themselves into daydreaming to cope with impairing feelings of shame.