Dreaming, maladaptive daydreaming, and emotional dysregulation: a latent profile analysis

Introduction: Maladaptive daydreaming is a condition characterized by an excessive engagement in fantasy that interferes with relational and social functioning of subjects. To date, MD has not yet been deepened in the fields of sleeping and dreaming. From a perspective that frames dreaming and conscious waking states in continuity as mind wandering, emotion regulation assumes a crucial role in evaluating more or less functional trajectories. This study aims to classify dreaming patterns testing the association with some components of maladaptive daydreaming. Secondly, this study aims to associate dreaming patterns with emotional dysregulation and sleep disturbances. Methods: 315 young adults (mean age= 23.35), participated in this cross-sectional study. First, dream patterns were identified using Latent profile analysis, involving as factors the dream recall, nightmares, lucid dreams, problem-solving dreams, emotional intensity, tone of dreams, (Mannheim Dream Questionnaire). Second, dream patterns were associated with specific components of maladaptive daydreaming, involving the distress caused when reality interrupts daydreaming and the impact of daydreaming on daily functioning (some items of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale). Third, dream profiles were associated with some sleep disturbances (Italian Sleep Disorders Questionnaire), and emotional dysregulation (DERS-SF). Results: The following dreaming patterns were found: sweet dreaming (21.9%), systematic dreaming (47.7%), and over-dreaming (30.4%). Over-dreaming profile and systematic dreaming profile were more associated with maladaptive daydreaming components than the sweet dreaming profile. Similar results were found for emotional dysregulation and non-restorative sleep. No difference between over-dreaming and systematic dreaming profiles emerged. Discussion: The results suggest that dreaming profiles characterized by intense dreaming (over and systematic) and maladaptive daydreaming share a similar hyper-investment of thought through phantasy and imagery. Moreover, both profiles are associated with emotion dysregulation, leading us to consider these patterns as attempts to control emotional experience. These findings have some theoretical and clinical implications, considering both dreaming and daydreaming along a continuum, from healthy to maladaptive strategies to process emotions.