Dissociative experiences and self-reported interoceptive traits in maladaptive daydreamers: a network analysis

People with Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD)—compulsive, immersive daydreaming that disrupts daily life—report higher levels of dissociation and altered body awareness compared to those without MD. In a survey of 137 Italian-speaking adults, those with MD scored higher on dissociation, especially absorption and depersonalization, and lower on three aspects of interoception: attention regulation, body listening, and trusting bodily sensations. Network analyses placed maladaptive daydreaming as a central link between dissociation and interoception. The findings suggest that MD may involve using daydreaming to escape uncomfortable bodily states, and that improving interoception through interventions like mindfulness could help address MD and its dissociative features.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD) is a proposed mental health condition characterized by compulsive, immersive daydreaming that interferes with daily functioning. Although MD is strongly associated with dissociative experiences, its relation to interoception remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated dissociative symptoms and self-reported interoception in individuals with MD compared to matched controls. A total of 137 Italian-speaking participants (83 MDers and 54 controls) completed an online survey assessing maladaptive daydreaming (MDS-16), dissociation (DES-II), and interoception (MAIA-2). As expected, MDers showed significantly higher levels of dissociation - particularly in the domains of absorption/imagination and depersonalization/derealization - compared to controls. Moreover, MDers exhibited lower scores on specific interoceptive subscales: Attention Regulation, Body Listening, and Trusting. Network analyses highlighted maladaptive daydreaming as a central node linking dissociation and interoception. These findings suggest that individuals with MD may experience altered interoception and that maladaptive daydreaming might function as an escape from unpleasant bodily states. This is the first study to document altered interoception in MD, future research could extend the findings by incorporating objective measures. Clinically, the results highlight the potential utility of interventions aimed at improving interoception - such as mindfulness-based approaches - in addressing maladaptive daydreaming and its dissociative correlates.