Dream Recall Frequency and Unusual Dream Experiences in Early Adolescence: Longitudinal Links to Behavior Problems
Journal of Research on Adolescence December 1, 2013 Nirit Soffer-Dudek, Avi Sadeh
Unusual dreams become less common as children move through early adolescence, and dream recall declines among girls. Internalizing symptoms—such as anxiety or depression—predict later increases in both dream recall and unusual dreams. In turn, unusual dreams predict worsening behavior problems, including both internalizing and externalizing difficulties. Tracking dream patterns in early adolescence could help identify hidden psychological distress.