Parentification, Experiential Avoidance and Maladaptive Daydreaming Among Young Adults

Abstract

The current research aimed at discovering how parentification, experiential avoidance, and maladaptive
daydreaming are related to each other among young adults. Quantitative correlational research design was
used, and 339 participants aged 18-25 years were selected through purposive sampling methods.
Statistical analysis was carried out with standardized measurement tools such as the Parentification
Inventory (PI), Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ), and Maladaptive Daydreaming
Scale (MDS-16). Initially, the study examined the interrelations of parentification, experiential avoidance,
and maladaptive daydreaming and later it also reminisced whether parentification and experiential
avoidance can predict maladaptive daydreaming significantly or not. The results were considered by
running descriptive statistics, spearmen correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis with the help
of SPSS. According to the results, all parentification, experiential avoidance, and maladaptive
daydreaming were significantly positively associated with each other. Findings based on multiple
regression indicated that experiential avoidance was a significant predictor of maladaptive daydreaming
while parentification was not significantly predicting maladaptive daydreaming after the control of
experiential avoidance. The results may point towards the fact that experiential avoidance can be one of
the main psychological processes which may mediate the relationship between early role reversal in
caregiving and engagement in maladaptive fantasy. This research helps in understanding the phenomenon
of maladaptive daydreaming in the Pakistani setting and emphasizes the significance of modifying
avoidance coping strategies in individuals who have a history of parentification.