Strange themes in pandemic dreams: Insomnia was associated with more negative, anxious and death‐related dreams during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Journal of Sleep Research June 14, 2022 Hailey Meaklim, M Burge, Flora Le et al. 12 citations
People with insomnia, especially those who developed it during the pandemic, reported more negative and vivid dream changes than good sleepers. In a global survey of 2240 participants followed over 12 months, 45% reported dream changes at baseline. Those with new-onset insomnia were most likely to report dream changes (55%), compared to those with pre-existing insomnia (45%) or good sleepers (36%). Dream themes included increased activity, vividness, negative emotions, survival, and poor sleep quality. Individuals with insomnia used more anxious and death-related words to describe their dreams. Dream activity decreased by 3-month follow-up. Dream changes were linked to worse mental health over time, especially for those with insomnia.