Personality correlates of fantasy proneness among adolescents

Personality correlates of fantasy proneness were studied in a sample of Spanish adolescents. Four-hundred and ninety-five adolescents filled out the CEQ (Creative Experiences Questionnaire, Merckelbach, Horselenberg, & Muris, 2001) and a checklist of personality adjectives (from Goldberg, 1990) tapping Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. We obtained a 20 item scale of fantasy proneness with adequate internal consistency. A factor analysis yielded three components of fantasy proneness: fantasy vividness, fantasy to escape, and make-believe. Girls scored significantly higher than boys both on the total scale as on all three factors. No age differences in fantasy proneness were found. Fantasy proneness was associated with Neuroticism, Openness, Agreeableness, and low Conscientiousness. Although the three subscales were related to Neuroticism, fantasy vividness and make-believe were related to Agreeableness, whereas fantasy to escape was associated with Openness to Experience and low Conscientiousness. These results suggest that the specific components of the ability to fantasize may have different functions in adolescence. Future studies should clarify which components of fantasy are predictive of the subsequent development of symptoms.