Mapping the Digital Visibility of Maladaptive Daydreaming: A Quantitative Analysis of YouTube Videos (2020–2025)

Background: Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD) is a psychological phenomenon characterized by extensive fantasy activity that interferes with daily functioning. With the growing use of digital media for sharing personal experiences, YouTube has emerged as a major platform where individuals discuss mental health–related topics. However, the quantitative characteristics and visibility dynamics of MD-related content have not been systematically examined. This study aimed to analyze the trends, geographic distribution, and engagement metrics of YouTube videos related to Maladaptive Daydreaming between 2020 and 2025.

Methods: Publicly available metadata of YouTube videos containing the keyword “Maladaptive Daydreaming” were collected using the YouTube Data API (v3) via a custom Python-based script. After removing duplicate or incomplete entries, 525 videos were included in the final dataset. Descriptive statistics were computed, and non-normally distributed data were summarized as medians and interquartile ranges. Interaction Index and Viewing Rate were compared across years using Kruskal–Wallis tests, with statistical significance set at p<0.05.

Results: The number of MD-related videos increased substantially over the five-year period, from 35 in 2020 to 224 in 2025. Nearly half of the videos had undefined geographic origins (45.0%), while the United States (16.4%), the United Kingdom (9.3%), and India (6.9%) accounted for most identifiable content. Both Interaction Index (H=26.65, p<0.001) and Viewing Rate (H=30.36, p<0.001) significantly differed by year, peaking in 2024–2025.

Conclusion: The growing volume and engagement of MD-related content indicate an increasing public awareness and online discourse surrounding this psychological phenomenon. Future research should explore the thematic quality and emotional tone of such content to better understand its role in digital mental health narratives.