Academic performance and suicidal ideation in young maladaptive daydreamers, a cross-sectional descriptive study

Abstract

Objective: To find the relationship between maladaptive daydreaming with academic performance and suicidal ideation in young adults. Method: The cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted from August 1 to November 30, 2022, after approval from the ethics review committee of the Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and comprised individuals who were part of an online community of maladaptive daydreamers. Screening was done using the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale and the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Results: Of the 485 subjects, 344(71%) were females and 141(2%) were males. The overall mean age was 21.65±4.9 years. Of the total, 441(90.9%) subjects were screened as maladaptive daydreamers; 323(73.2%) females and 118(26.7%) males. Maladaptive daydreamers had a significant association with both declining academic scores and suicide ideation (p<0.001). Conclusion: Maladaptive daydreamers were more likely to have an adverse effect on academic grades and were at a higher risk of suicide ideation than non-maladaptive daydreamers.