Daydreaming and Mental Health

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between self ratings of recorded daydreams and mental health as measured by the Mental Health Index (MHI). Forty-eight subjects recorded at least five daydreams over a two-week period and completed the MHI. As predicted there was no relationship between the MHI and subjects' rating of how they felt during the daydream. After the daydream, distressed subjects rated the daydream as being more potent than healthy subjects. Consistent with the study's hypothesis, the difference score between the two daydream ratings was related to the MHI with measures of mental health positively related to change scores and measures of distress negatively related to change scores. Results were interpreted in terms of the role of daydreams in feedback loops and self-efficacy.