Date of Award

1-30-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Gregory Fischer

Second Advisor

Nahanni Freeman

Third Advisor

Amber Nelson

Abstract

The present study examined the personality traits of individuals who identify themselves as “Disney adults” and explored patterns of Disney-related engagement through a newly developed Disney Engagement Scale (DES). Personality traits have a history of being used in many capacities to identify themes within a population. As the Disney adult population grows larger, the opportunity for research increases. In popular media, Disney adults have frequently been shamed for their engagement with the company. The premise of the Disney experience is based on nostalgia, play and cheer. Further, holistic health benefits of nostalgia, playfulness and cheerfulness in adults can be found in recent research. The personalities of those inclined to become Disney adults could lead to valuable information regarding overall well-being. Analyses found that self-identified Disney adults reported lower levels of Extraversion. An exploratory factor analysis (N=133) of the DES revealed a three factor solution, accounting for approximately 56% of the total variance. The subscales demonstrated a range of internal consistency, Disney Media Engagement (α =.88), Disney Community Engagement (α =.84), and Franchise Engagement (α = .54). Construct validity was supported through measured difference in engagement, with Disney adults scoring significantly higher in all three factors with small to large effect sizes. Regression analyses provided further construct validity, with Disney Media Engagement being a significant positive predictor of Agreeableness. Additionally, higher levels of cheerfulness were associated with higher levels of Franchise Engagement.

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