Abstract
This study demonstrates the prevalence of the maladaptive daydreaming (MD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among Saudi medical students. It also illustrates the association of MD with both GAD and the students’ grade point average (GPA). MD was assessed by using the 14-item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS), and GAD was assessed by using both the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Our data estimate the prevalence of MD among the students to be 70%, GAD prevalence to be 80%, and 55% when using both GAD-7 and PSWQ, respectively. A statistically significant decline in the GPA was apparent among maladaptive daydreamers (MDers). A statistically significant rise in the scores of GAD-7 and PSWQ among MDers compared to non-MDers was found. To sum up, our findings demonstrate a high number of MDers and GAD sufferers among our subjects, and it appears that MD is associated with both GAD and GPA.
Highlights
Daydreaming or spacing out is a temporary separation from reality during which people's contact with reality is compromised and somewhat replaced by a visionary fantasy that might be pleasant or annoying [1]
maladaptive daydreaming (MD) has shown an association with academic performance (GPA) as the academic performance was significantly reduced among Maladaptive daydreamers (MDers) (4.23 ± 0.66) compared to non-MDers (4.38 ± 0.56) (P = 0.035) (Table 2)
This study demonstrates the prevalence of MD, as well as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the relationship between the two, and their association with academic performance (GPA)
Summary
Daydreaming or spacing out is a temporary separation from reality during which people's contact with reality is compromised and somewhat replaced by a visionary fantasy that might be pleasant or annoying [1]. Maladaptive daydreamers (MDers) spend hours indulging in highly structured and very immersive daydreams that are sometimes accompanied by repetitive movements, such as pacing and fidgeting [2]. They have difficulties in shifting attention rather than sustaining attention, which is an inability to return to real life after being immersed in the fanciful daydreams [4]. Common manifestations include daydreaming for lengthy periods, extremely vivid daydreams, difficulty completing everyday tasks, difficulty sleeping at night, an overwhelming desire to continue daydreaming, performing repetitive movements while daydreaming, showing some facial expressions while daydreaming, whispering and talking while daydreaming, and many other manifestations [4]
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