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