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Recent research found that individuals with higher levels of narcissistic traits are more prone to maladaptive daydreaming. Additionally, individuals prone to maladaptive daydreaming were less prone to use mature psychological defenses and more prone to using neurotic and immature ones. The paper was published in Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice.
Maladaptive daydreaming is a psychological phenomenon in which individuals engage in excessive, immersive, and vivid daydreaming that interferes with daily functioning. Unlike normal daydreaming, it is intense and time-consuming. Maladaptive daydreaming is often triggered by real-life events, music, or boredom.
People with maladaptive daydreaming may create elaborate imaginary worlds, characters, or plots—sometimes preferring them over real-life interactions. This behavior can lead to significant distress, sleep problems, and impaired academic, occupational, or social functioning. It is often associated with underlying conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or trauma. While maladaptive daydreaming is not currently recognized as a formal mental disorder, research suggests it can cause substantial impairment.
Study authors Alessia Renzi and Rachele Mariani aimed to explore the association between maladaptive daydreaming, narcissistic personality traits, psychological defense mechanisms, age, and gender. They also examined whether defense mechanisms might mediate the relationship between maladaptive daydreaming and narcissistic traits.
Narcissistic personality traits include an inflated sense of self-importance, a strong need for admiration, lack of empathy, and a tendency to exploit others for personal gain. At very high levels, these traits may be part of a mental health condition known as narcissistic personality disorder. Psychological defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies the mind uses to protect itself from anxiety or distress. These mechanisms are typically classified as mature (e.g., humor, sublimation), neurotic (e.g., repression, displacement), or immature (e.g., denial, projection), depending on how adaptive or functional they are.
The study included 562 participants recruited through social media platforms and websites popular among young adults. Their average age was 27 years. Thirty-six percent of participants were Italian, 18% were Greek, and 8% were Turkish, while the rest came from various other countries.
Participants completed an online survey that included assessments of maladaptive daydreaming (the 16-item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale), psychological defense mechanisms (the Defense Mechanism Rating Scales Self-Report), and narcissistic traits (the Pathological Narcissism Inventory).
Results showed that individuals who scored higher in maladaptive daydreaming also tended to have higher levels of narcissistic personality traits. They were less likely to use mature defenses and more likely to rely on immature and neurotic defenses. Younger individuals were more prone to maladaptive daydreaming, but there were no significant gender differences.
The researchers tested a statistical model proposing that psychological defenses might mediate the relationship between narcissism and maladaptive daydreaming. The analyses indicated that immature and neurotic defenses partially mediated this relationship. In other words, narcissistic traits may lead to increased use of immature and neurotic defenses, which in turn may increase the likelihood of maladaptive daydreaming. However, these defense mechanisms do not fully explain the link.
“The significant associations found in this study support a link between narcissistic personality traits and MD [maladaptive daydreaming], where defenses seem to play a relevant role,” the study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the links between narcissism and maladaptive daydreaming. However, it should be noted that the design of the study does not allow any causal inferences to be derived from the results.
The paper, “What Is the Relationship Between Narcissism and Maladaptive Daydreaming? The Role of Defense Mechanisms as Mediators,” was authored by Alessia Renzi and Rachele Mariani.
