Dissociative experiences and self-reported interoceptive traits in maladaptive daydreamers: a network analysis
Ilaria Bufalari, Lilya Abergel, Andrea Zagaria, Laura Fusar‐poli, Laura Ferreri, Marco Sperduti
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience June 23, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s00406-026-02296-w via OpenAlex
Summary
Individuals with maladaptive daydreaming (MD) exhibit significantly higher levels of dissociation and lower scores in certain interoceptive abilities compared to matched controls. The study involved 137 participants, including 83 with MD and 54 controls, who completed surveys on maladaptive daydreaming, dissociation, and interoception. Specifically, MDers showed increased dissociation in absorption/imagination and depersonalization/derealization, while struggling with attention regulation, body listening, and trusting their bodily sensations. These findings suggest a link between MD and altered interoception.
Study at a glance
| Design | observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 137 |
| Population | Italian-speaking participants, including individuals with maladaptive daydreaming and matched controls |
| Key finding | Maladaptive daydreamers show significantly higher levels of dissociation and lower interoceptive abilities compared to controls. |
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.