Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Traumatized Us Collectively? The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Sleep Factors via Traumatization: A Multinational Survey
Nature and Science of Sleep August 1, 2022 Brigitte Holzinger, Franziska Nierwetberg, Frances Chung et al. 16 citations
High nightmare frequency (≥1–2 nights/week) rose from 13.24% to 22.35% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors associated with high nightmare frequency included self-reported post-traumatic stress symptoms (OR=2.11), other mental disorders, sleep problems, financial burden, confinement, having had COVID-19, and work situation. Post-traumatic stress symptoms partly mediated the relationship between pandemic-related stressors and nightmare frequency. The authors conclude that the pandemic caused traumatization in a substantial proportion of society and suggest that health care workers screen for nightmares as an indicator of post-traumatic stress symptoms and other disorders.