Background and aims: Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD) is a suggested syndrome where individuals become addicted to fantasizing vividly for hours on end at the expense of engaging in real-world relationships and functioning. MD can be seen as a behavioral addiction. However, a paucity of longitudinal research means that there is no empirical evidence confirming the stability of this alleged addiction. Moreover, the direction of its association with psychopathology is unclear.Methods: We examine, for the first time, long-term stability and longitudinal associations between MD, psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms) and COVID-19 related exposure.Results: Participants (N = 814) completed an online survey twice, with a lag of 13 months. A two-wave structural equation model demonstrated high MD stability and positive cross-lagged pathways from MD to psychological distress. COVID-19 related exposure was not a longitudinal predictor.Discussion and conclusions: MD is a stable condition and a risk factor for an increase in psychological distress.

In recent years psychosocial studies have given a growing attention to online intergroup contact in reducing prejudice. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of evidence on processes that could mediate this relation. The present study aimed to fill this gap. Focused on intergroup relationships between people with different sexual orientations, it examined whether and to what extent identity processes—i.e., sexual identity commitment and exploration—mediated the relationship between online intergroup contact and perception of mediated and vicarious sexual online discrimination on Facebook. Data was collected with a sample of 357 Facebook users (M_age = 26.07, SD = 8.37; females: 64.9%, males: 35.1%) who completed an online questionnaire. A full Structural Equation Modeling was tested. Results showed that: (a) Online contact was positively associated with perceived online sexual discrimination; (b) online contact was positively associated with identity exploration but not commitment; (c) exploration—but not commitment—was positively associated with perceived online sexual discrimination; (d) sexual identity exploration—but not commitment—mediated the relationship between online contact and perception of sexual discrimination, increasing the positive effect of contact on perceived discrimination. Limitations and directions for future research were discussed.

Literature highlighted that problematic social network site use might have relevant detrimental consequences on users’ well-being, particularly in adolescence. However, it is still not clear which variables could be considered protective or risk factors for such problematic use. The present study aimed to fill this gap, examining the relationship between reflective functioning and adolescents’ identity development, while taking problematic SNS use into account. A sample of 354 students (age range = 13–19; M_age = 16.18, SD = 1.58; 19.9% males) from two Italians high schools participated in the study. Results from structural equation modeling showed that adolescents with high levels of reflective functioning reported lower levels of problematic SNS use. Furthermore, problematic SNS use mediated the relationship between reflective functioning and identity development, by disfavouring identity in-depth exploration and favouring reconsideration of commitment. We discussed clinical and research implications.

Identity diffusion is a core element of the borderline personality organization. A valid and reliable assessment tool is needed to identify at-risk adolescents in the Italian context. In this study, we investigated the psychometric properties of the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA), a self-report questionnaire designed to assess identity diffusion vs. identity integration, in an Italian sample (N = 1,102) of clinical and nonclinical adolescents. Explorative structural equation modeling supported the expected bi-factor structure with one general factor and six descriptive factors. Scale reliability was good, with Cronbach’s α = .94 for the AIDA total scale. The results supported convergent validity with measures of borderline personality features as well as discriminant validity with identity dimensions in ideological and interpersonal domains. The AIDA total score identity diffusion differed highly significantly and with a large effect size between the general population sample and patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (n= 55). The Italian version of the AIDA proved to be a valid and reliable measure to assess adolescents’ identity pathology within the Italian context.