Among 3,431 youth in Fujian Province, China, 28.6% reported suicidal ideation in the past year and 25.9% reported frequent nightmares. Childhood trauma was linked to suicidal ideation partly through nightmare frequency, which accounted for about 4% of the total effect. Sex did not significantly moderate this pathway. Treating nightmares may help reduce suicidal ideation in youth with a history of childhood trauma, regardless of sex.
Among 16,220 hospital workers in Wuhan, China, surveyed during the COVID-19 pandemic, 13.3% reported suicidal ideation in the past month. Exposure to COVID-19-related traumatic events was significantly associated with insomnia severity, nightmare frequency, and suicidal ideation. After controlling for potential confounders, nightmares—but not insomnia, depression, or anxiety—were independent risk factors for suicidal ideation. Pathway analyses indicated that the relationship between traumatic event exposure and suicidal ideation was fully mediated by nightmares, with a proportion mediated of 66.4%. The authors suggest that nightmare intervention might be considered a component of suicide prevention strategies.