Impact of Maladaptive Daydreaming on Grade Point Average (GPA) and the Association Between Maladaptive Daydreaming and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

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.

Prevalence of maladaptive daydreaming among medical students at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, in 2020–2021

“…The difference between the two percentages might be explained by many factors; a clear explanation is the wide cultural differences between the Sudanese and the American population; another possible explanation is the presumable lack of sufficient knowledge of the concept and the experience of maladaptive daydreaming among the study population, which is a plausible explanation because 24.1% of the study participants were not familiar with the concept of maladaptive daydreaming. One important finding regarding the experience of normal daydreaming is that there was no significant correlation between daydreaming and gender of medical students at the UofK-MED (P=0.179); the same finding was found in many similar studies [ 5 , 6 , 8 ]…”

“…Regarding the MDS score, the mean of MDS score among the study population was found to be 33.66, which is still considered less than the 45% cutoff point measurement for MD. As mentioned in the “ Results ” section, 34.3% of total students were found to be MDers; on the other hand, 70% of the of students were found to be MDers in a similar study conducted on Saudi medical students [ 8 ], while in Italy 17% of adult Italian population during the COVID-19 lockdown were identified as MDers [ 11 ]; again, this could be explained by cultural, socioeconomic, and demographic differences between the countries. Additionally, the two abovementioned studies was conducted on 380 students chosen by convenient sampling, whereas this study population was chosen by random sampling.…”

“…Third-year medical students were non-arguably the most alarming, since more than half of the students were identified as MD. The study also demonstrates the deep and concerning perception of medical students at the University of Khartoum regarding the impact of MD on their academic functioning and also emphasizes the academic gravity of the situation, as MD clearly has a negative impact on medical students’ academic achievement over 60%; in fact, a significant correlation was found between MDS score and medical students’ perception of its negative impact on their academic functioning; similarly, in Saudi Arabia, MD score was associated with poor academic functioning, as high MD score was associated with GPA, putting more emphasis on the tremendous impact of MD on medical students [ 8 ].…”

“…According to a recent study conducted in Saudi Arabia, 70% of medical students engage in maladaptive daydreaming. Furthermore, maladaptive daydreaming has been linked to poor academic performance, with academic performance significantly lower among maladaptive daydreamers (MDers) compared to non-MDers, highlighting the seriousness of the condition among medical students [ 8 ]. The knowledge gap of maladaptive daydreaming-related statistics among medical students, or rather, in Sudan as a whole, is unmistakably large, which is a very concerning fact given the magnitude of this phenomenon.…”

Maladaptive Daydreaming in an Adult Italian Population During the COVID-19 Lockdown

“…The most frequent comorbid DSM-5 disorders are attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive or related disorder (Somer et al, 2017a ). Specifically, many MDers with anxiety and depression were more likely to engage in MD as a means to flee from their unpleasant circumstances (Somer, 2002 ; Alenizi et al, 2020 ). Conversely, comorbidity with psychosis was rare.…”