Specifics of The Relationship Between the Intensity of Obsessive Dreams and The Level of Dissociation
Innovative science: psychology, pedagogy, defectology June 29, 2026 DOI: 10.23947/2658-7165-2026-9-3-97-105 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional correlational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | People aged 18-30 years |
| Measures | Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16), Dissociation scale (DES), Nuller Depersonalization scale |
| Key findings | Obsessive dream severity was positively correlated with overall dissociation (r = 0.562), depersonalization massiveness (r = 0.406), and depersonalization severity (r = 0.331). Participants with high obsessive daydreaming levels had significantly higher dissociation and depersonalization massiveness than those with normal levels, but no significant difference in depersonalization severity. The authors argue that excessive daydreaming is associated with a broad spectrum of dissociative symptoms, not only their intensity. |
Abstract
Introduction . Despite the growing interest in the phenomenon of obsessive dreams (OD), the role of dissociative processes as a key mechanism underlying deep and prolonged immersion in fantasy reality remains insufficiently studied. In modern research, obsessive daydreaming is increasingly viewed not as a form of excessive fantasy preoccupation, but as a stable pattern of maladaptive behavior that is comparable in its neuropsychological mechanisms to dissociative disorders. It is debatable which dissociation parameters (the intensity of experiencing individual symptoms or the breadth of their spectrum) are primarily associated with excessive daydreaming. This explains the relevance of our research. Objective . Empirical testing of the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between the severity of obsessive dreams and the level of dissociative states, in particular depersonalization-derealization. Materials and Methods. The study involved 50 people (18–30 years old). The obsessive-compulsive Dreaming Scale (MDS-16), the Dissociation scale (DES), and the Nuller Depersonalization scale were used. Spearman’s correlation analysis and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to analyze the data. Results . There was a statistically significant positive association of moderate strength between the severity of obsessive dreams and the overall level of dissociation (r = 0.562, p ≤ 0.01), as well as moderate associations with the indicators of massiveness (r = 0.406, p ≤ 0.01) and severity (r = 0.331, p ≤ 0.05) of depersonalization. Respondents with a high NG level showed a statistically significantly higher level of dissociation and massiveness of depersonalization symptoms compared to the group with a normal NG level. There were no significant differences in the severity of depersonalization between the groups. Discussion . The results confirm that intense immersion in obsessive daydreams is associated with the development of stable dissociative states and differs from the process of normal fantasizing mainly in the breadth of the spectrum of dissociative symptoms, and not only in the severity and strength of their manifestation. The data obtained show that excessive daydreaming is associated with generalization of dissociative manifestations and affects various spheres of perception.