Nightmare frequency mediates the association between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation among youth: is it sex-specific?
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience November 17, 2025 Jianyu Que, Yan’e Lu, Jingrou Liu et al.
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.