Where Is My Mind? The Daydreaming Characteristics Questionnaire, a New Tool to Differentiate Absorptive Daydreaming From Mind-Wandering.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is an impairing condition characterized by addiction to narrative, emotional fantasizing, involving dissociative absorption. By compulsively withdrawing toward vivid imaginative scenarios, MD hinders attentional functioning and replaces social interactions. Previous Interview-based research showed clinical importance in differentiating MD from ADHD and the associated construct of mind-wandering. We aimed to create a self-report tool asking directly about the content and structure of distracting thoughts.

Method

Two samples, namely, 346 undergraduate students and 381 adults from the general community, completed a novel measure, the Daydreaming Characteristics Questionnaire (DCQ), along with validated measures for ADHD, mind-wandering, MD

SUBMITTER: Theodor-Katz N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11956380 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature