Currently about to commence. We are currently seeking up to thirty participants to help us to explore their experiences of Maladaptive Daydreaming. Participants will join a confidential Facebook group, where they can engage with other Australian Maladaptive Daydreamers, asking and answering questions, sharing their experiences and discussing their Maladaptive Daydreaming. The Facebook group will be available for a six week period, with a Researcher observing the forum on a daily basis. A $50 Myer Gift Card will be available to participants, as an extension of gratitude for participating. The thirty participants will spend some time on Skype with an Independent Assessor, having a wellbeing check carried out, to ensure eligibility and to clarify their experience of Maladaptive Daydreaming. Permission has been granted by Professor Eli Somer, to use his Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16) and his Maladaptive Daydreaming Clinical Interview (SCIMD) in this study.
Data will be recorded from the online forum by the Researcher, with screenshots of comments/status updates. This data will be kept securely and confidentiality will be ensured during the process. There will be an opportunity for the participants to be involved in a review process of the data to be used. The data will be used to develop theory about the experiences of Australian Maladaptive Daydreamers. It is likely that the results of the study would be published in academic journals.
The aim of the online forum (Phase II), is to provide some initial exploration into the experiences of Australian Maladaptive Daydreamers, to generate theory and provide ideas for treatment of Maladaptive Daydreaming.