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. 2023;42(11):9509-9525.
doi: 10.1007/s12144-021-02223-3. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Childhood traumatization and dissociative experiences among maladaptive and normal daydreamers in a Hungarian sample

Alexandra Sándor  1   2 , Antal Bugán  1   2 , Attila Nagy  3 , Nikolett Nagy  1 , Katalin Tóth-Merza  4 , Judit Molnár  1   2
Affiliations

Childhood traumatization and dissociative experiences among maladaptive and normal daydreamers in a Hungarian sample

Alexandra Sándor et al. Curr Psychol. 2023.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify some potential etiological segments of maladaptive daydreaming, especially the relationships between maladaptive daydreaming, childhood traumatization, and dissociative propensity. The questionnaire package included the Hungarian version of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale, the Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire, as well as the Dissociation Questionnaire. 717 participants were recruited online, 106 of whom were problematic daydreamers. The results revealed that certain types of childhood trauma occurred significantly more frequently in the group of maladaptive daydreamers. Furthermore, maladaptive daydreamers possessed a significantly higher level of dissociative propensity compared to normal daydreamers. The estimated SEM models showed that dissociative experiences - more precisely Identity confusion and fragmentation and Lack of control - mediated the relationship between certain childhood traumatic experiences and maladaptive daydreaming. The results suggest that we should consider childhood traumatization and increased dissociative propensity as potentially significant factors in the etiology of maladaptive daydreaming.

Keywords: Childhood traumatization; Dissociative propensity; Hungarian sample; Maladaptive daydreaming.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Path diagram presenting the significant associations between childhood trauma (0–6 years), dissociative experiences, and maladaptive daydreaming
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Path diagram presenting the significant associations between childhood trauma (7–12 years), dissociative experiences, and maladaptive daydreaming
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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