The role of social anxiety and emotional self-Efficacy in the link between childhood trauma and maladaptive daydreaming among university students: a moderated mediation model

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between childhood trauma and maladaptive daydreaming, exploring the mediating role of social anxiety and the moderating influence of emotional self-efficacy. While previous research has established links between childhood adversity and maladaptive daydreaming, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 541 university students in Turkey (74% female; M = 25.6). Participants completed self-report measures assessing childhood trauma, social anxiety, maladaptive daydreaming, and emotional self-efficacy. Findings revealed that social anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and maladaptive daydreaming. Additionally, emotional self-efficacy moderated the impact of childhood trauma on social anxiety, with higher emotional self-efficacy amplifying this relationship. These results suggest that individuals with greater emotional self-efficacy may experience heightened social anxiety following childhood trauma, which in turn increases their likelihood of engaging in maladaptive daydreaming. This study contributes to the understanding of maladaptive daydreaming as a coping mechanism for trauma-related social difficulties and highlights the importance of targeted interventions that address both social anxiety and emotion regulation.