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SLEEPJ

ISSN 0161-8105

2 papers in the library · publishing 2026

Papers

0128 Emotion Regulation Approaches are Related to Nightmare Frequency and Nightmare-Related Impairment

SLEEPJ May 8, 2026 Andrew Meierotto, Garrett Baber, Nancy Hamilton

People who habitually suppress their emotions—inhibiting emotional expression—are more likely to experience severe nightmare-related distress, while those who use cognitive reappraisal, an adaptive reframing of emotional experiences, tend to report fewer nightmares. In a survey of university students, higher expressive suppression increased the odds of reporting more severe nightmare impairment by 14%. Higher cognitive reappraisal decreased the odds of more frequent nightmares by 4%. Age was not a significant factor. The findings suggest that emotion regulation styles are relevant to understanding vulnerability to nightmares, though causal mechanisms remain unclear.

DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsag091.0128 (opens in new tab)

1057 Trauma-Related Sleep Processes and Mental Health: The Roles of Dream Self-Efficacy and Nightmare Distress

SLEEPJ May 1, 2026 Victoria West Staples, W. Youngren, Emma Angle et al.

Lower dream self-efficacy (DSE; the perceived ability to manage or influence dream experiences) and heightened nightmare distress (NM distress) both independently predicted more severe PTSD symptoms and more suicidal thoughts in a trauma-exposed sample of 30 adults. Lower DSE alone predicted greater insomnia severity. The findings suggest that confidence in managing dreams and distress from nightmares contribute separately to posttraumatic outcomes, with dream self-efficacy playing a particular role in sleep disturbances.

DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsag091.1056 (opens in new tab) Psychology