A 2-wave study on the associations between dissociative experiences, maladaptive daydreaming, bodily dissociation, and problematic social media use

Background and Aims Previous studies have reported an association between dissociative experiences (e.g., absorption, depersonalization) and Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU), but the directionality of these relationships remains unclear. Moreover, there is a dearth of research on the link between bodily dissociation and PSMU, despite the widespread practice of editing and manipulating pictures of oneself, which requires users to view themselves from a third-person perspective. The present study aimed to examine the directionality of the relationship between various dissociative-related experiences and PSMU through a longitudinal study. Method A total of 216 participants (79.20% female; M age = 20.46 ± 2.26, range = 18–33), completed a survey twice, with a 4-month interval. A cross-lagged panel analysis within a Structural Equation Modeling framework was employed. Results PSMU severity at T0 predicted Bodily dissociation ( β = 0.15, p = 0.005) and Absorption and imaginative involvement ( β = 0.13, p = 0.026) at T1. No other cross-lagged effects were detected. Discussion and Conclusions Excessive involvement in social media activity, along with its emphasis on appearance, may contribute to increased dissociative experiences, including a weakened emotional connection with one's own body and reduced awareness of bodily sensations.