Prevalence and correlates of disturbed dreaming in children.
Pathologie-biologie October 1, 2014 A Gauchat, J R Séguin, A Zadra
Nightmares affect a significant proportion of children of all ages, with some evidence suggesting nightmare frequency may peak around age 10. Gender differences, with girls reporting more nightmares than boys, tend to appear between ages 10 and 15. Nightmares are associated with psychosocial difficulties such as stress and behavioral problems, and elevated anxiety and concomitant sleep-related disorders like sleepwalking are among the most robust correlates. Few studies have examined nightmare treatment in children, but imagery rehearsal therapy has shown promising results. Research has been hampered by inconsistent definitions, variability in questionnaire items, and lack of awareness of how using parents versus children as respondents may impact results.