Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Behavioral Sciences 2322-1194 19 4 2026 02 01 Coping Through Fantasy: The Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Psychological Acceptance in the Link between Childhood Trauma and Maladaptive Daydreaming 205 213 243596 10.30491/ijbs.2026.548674.2275 EN Seyed-Ali Kazemi-Rezaei Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-5783-9742 Marzie Hashemi Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0001-7502-0952 Farshad Ahmadi Department of Clinical Psychology, Sa.C; Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran Peyman Hatamian Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran Journal Article 2025 11 24 <strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the impact of childhood trauma on maladaptive daydreaming, considering the mediating roles of difficulties in emotion regulation and psychological acceptance.<br><strong>Method:</strong> This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted on a sample comprising nurses working in hospitals in Tehran in 2021. A total of 225 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the 16-item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16; Somer et al.), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ; Bernstein et al.), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II (AAQ-II; Bond et al.) Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA">(</span>.<br><strong>Results:</strong> The SEM showed that childhood trauma had a small but significant positive direct effect on maladaptive daydreaming (β=0.12, p=0.027). Emotion regulation difficulties had a strong positive effect (β=0.47, p<0.001), while psychological acceptance had a significant negative effect (β=−0.18, p<0.001). Childhood trauma was associated with poorer emotion regulation (β=0.58) and lower acceptance (β=−0.51). Both variables significantly mediated the trauma–maladaptive daydreaming relationship. <br><strong>Conclusion:</strong> According the findings of the present study, childhood trauma influenced maladaptive daydreaming directly and indirectly, with emotion regulation difficulties and psychological acceptance mediating this relationship among nurses. https://www.behavsci.ir/article_243596_01162f58ea8f71c25d30b42604f3aac6.pdf