Coping Through Fantasy: The Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Psychological Acceptance in the Link between Childhood Trauma and Maladaptive Daydreaming

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the impact of childhood trauma on maladaptive daydreaming, considering the mediating roles of difficulties in emotion regulation and psychological acceptance.Method: This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted on a sample comprising nurses working in hospitals in Tehran in ۲۰۲۱. A total of ۲۲۵ participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the ۱۶-item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-۱۶; Somer et al.), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ; Bernstein et al.), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II (AAQ-II; Bond et al.) Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM(.Results: The SEM showed that childhood trauma had a small but significant positive direct effect on maladaptive daydreaming (β=۰.۱۲, p=۰.۰۲۷). Emotion regulation difficulties had a strong positive effect (β=۰.۴۷, p<۰.۰۰۱), while psychological acceptance had a significant negative effect (β=−۰.۱۸, p<۰.۰۰۱). Childhood trauma was associated with poorer emotion regulation (β=۰.۵۸) and lower acceptance (β=−۰.۵۱). Both variables significantly mediated the trauma–maladaptive daydreaming relationship. Conclusion: According the findings of the present study, childhood trauma influenced maladaptive daydreaming directly and indirectly, with emotion regulation difficulties and psychological acceptance mediating this relationship among nurses.

کلیدواژه ها:

acceptance ، Childhood Trauma ، emotional regulation ، Maladaptive Daydreaming