Frequency and Intensity of Daydreaming: Age Changes and Age Differences from Late Adolescent to the Old-Old

Abstract

Daydreaming likelihood and intensity were examined through responses to the Imaginal Processes Inventory. Giambra [1–8] and McCraven and Singer [9] have demonstrated adult age differences and seven-year changes. These earlier studies were expanded by increasing the size and diversity of the cross-sectional (n = 2791, 17–95 yrs. old) and 5.45–9.54 year longitudinal samples (n = 886) and by adding 11.45–16.67 year (n = 628) and 17.40–23.44 year (n = 290) longitudinal samples. Clear age differences and age changes occurred in daydream likelihood and intensity. Biological speed and efficiency of information-processing, current concern, attentional strategy, memory deficit, and age-related differences in response honesty explanations were evaluated.

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