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Validity and reliability of the Polish Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (PMDS-16) and its short form (PMDS-5)

Igor Jacob Pietkiewicz1, Anna M Hełka2, Mateusz Barłóg2

  • 1Institute of Psychology, Jesuit University Ignatianum, Kraków, Poland.

Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
|February 22, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is excessive fantasy interfering with life. The Polish Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (PMDS-16) and a short PMDS-5 version effectively screen for MD and are linked to lower quality of life and resilience.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychometrics

Background:

  • Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is characterized by excessive fantasy use that impairs daily functioning.
  • Existing scales for assessing MD require validation in different linguistic and cultural contexts.
  • Understanding the relationship between MD, resilience, and quality of life is crucial for clinical intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (PMDS-16) and a new 5-item version (PMDS-5).
  • To assess the screening capacity of both PMDS-16 and PMDS-5 for identifying individuals with MD.
  • To explore the associations between MD, resilience, and quality of life in a Polish sample.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 491 participants (315 nonclinical, 176 mixed-clinical).
  • Exploratory factor analysis (principal component analysis) to confirm scale structure.
  • Reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha and examination of sensitivity and specificity for screening.

Main Results:

  • Both PMDS-16 and PMDS-5 demonstrated a robust one-factor structure and high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >.93).
  • A cutoff score of 42 on both scales maximized sensitivity and specificity for MD, with PMDS-5 showing better discrimination.
  • Individuals with MD reported significantly higher scores on both scales, lower quality of life (psychological, social), and poorer resilience compared to non-MD individuals.

Conclusions:

  • The Polish versions of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (PMDS-16 and PMDS-5) exhibit satisfactory psychometric properties for use in clinical and nonclinical settings.
  • The short PMDS-5 is a valid and reliable tool for screening maladaptive daydreaming, offering better discriminating power.
  • Maladaptive daydreaming is associated with diminished quality of life and resilience, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Keywords:
maladaptive daydreamingonline instrumentsscreeningtest reliabilitytest validity

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