A multidimensional model of Maladaptive Daydreaming: Integrating neurodevelopmental traits, digital addictions, psychosocial vulnerabilities, and mental well-being among emerging adults.

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is increasingly recognized as a complex psychological phenomenon that extends beyond ordinary fantasy. While it has been predominantly conceptualized within a dissociative framework, the present study aimed to extend this perspective by proposing a complementary integrative model focusing on less extensively examined but interacting domains, including neurodevelopmental traits, behavioral addictions, and socio-psychological factors, in a sample of university students in Türkiye. A total of 848 participants (mean age = 21.50 ± 2.59 years; 73.2% female) completed validated self-report measures assessing MD (MDS-16), ADHD symptoms, autism spectrum traits, behavioral addictions (social media and gaming), and psychosocial variables including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, narcissism, and loneliness. Using a cut-off score of ≥50 on the MDS-16, the prevalence of MD among university students was 18.3%. MD severity was positively associated with ADHD symptoms (r = 0.335), autism spectrum traits (r = 0.218), social media use (r = 0.309), anxiety (r = 0.339), and narcissistic traits (r = 0.256), and positively associated with higher RSES scores (r = 0.315; indicating lower self-esteem) and negatively associated with age (r = -0.231) (all p < .001). In hierarchical linear regression analyses, low self-esteem, ADHD symptoms, and autism traits emerged as the strongest predictors of MD severity, while anxiety, social media addiction, and narcissistic traits also contributed significantly. Age and year of study showed consistent inverse associations with MD severity (adjusted R2 = 0.283). These findings indicate that MD reflects a multidimensional process in which neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities, emotional dysregulation, and behaviorally reinforced patterns converge, supporting an integrative account that complements dissociative conceptualizations.