Introducing the addictive daydreaming scale: development and Polish validation of the ADS-20 and ADS-5 - Radosław Tomalski (Autor); Anna Hełka (Autor); IGOR PIETKIEWICZ (Autor) (2025)
10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1702416
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1702416/abstract
Oryginalny artykuł naukowy
Background and aims: Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a pattern of excessive,compulsive fantasizing associated with functional impairment. While itsclassification remains debated, increasing evidence suggests that it may beunderstood as an addictive form of emotion regulation. This study aimed todevelop and validate a new self-report tool, grounded in the behavioral addictionframework, for screening and assessing the severity of MD, and to examine itspotential clinical utility.Methods: A mixed-clinical (N = 182) and non-clinical (N = 231) samplecompleted the Addictive Daydreaming Scale (ADS) in two forms: a 20-item fullversion (ADS-20) and a 5-item screening test (ADS-5), together with establishedmeasures of MD, quality of life, and self-rated impact of daydreaming.Results: Psychometric analyses confirmed that both the ADS-20 and ADS-5demonstrated high reliability and strong content, criterion, and construct validity.ADS scores were more strongly correlated with both the psychological and socialdomains of quality of life than Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale scores, supportingits sensitivity to functional impairment. Cut-off scores of ≥42 (ADS-20) and ≥8(ADS-5) showed good accuracy for identifying clinically significant cases.Conclusions: The ADS-20 and ADS-5 are reliable, valid instruments foridentifying and assessing addictive features of maladaptive daydreaming. Theiruse may support improved clinical detection, assessing the severity of MD andhelp conceptualize it within the behavioral addictions framework.
Keywords: psychologia