Self-Structure Functioning and Nightmare Frequency: The Role of Nightmare Proneness
Journal of International Scholarship January 1, 2026 DOI: 10.65030/jis.011001 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractNightmares are distressing dreams that may stem from difficulties in regulating internal experiences rather than from specific psychiatric disorders. In 202 university students, impairments in self-functions (regulation and integration of internal experience) were strongly associated with nightmare proneness, which in turn was linked to greater nightmare frequency. The relationship between self-functions and nightmare frequency occurred primarily through nightmare proneness, with no significant direct association. These findings suggest that how people structure and regulate their internal experiences indirectly influences how often they have nightmares, via cognitive-affective processing patterns.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 202 |
| Population | University students |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Dream Distressing Recall Association psychology |
| Key finding | Impairments in self-functions were strongly associated with nightmare proneness, and nightmare proneness was associated with greater nightmare frequency; self-functions related to nightmare frequency primarily through nightmare proneness. |
Abstract
Nightmares are distressing dreams that occur across psychological conditions and may reflect underlying vulnerability in the regulation of internal experience rather than symptoms of specific psychiatric disorders. This study examined relationships among self-structure self-functions (regulation and integration of internal experience), nightmare proneness (a cognitive-affective processing style linked to nightmares), and nightmare frequency in 202 university students. Participants completed measures of self-functioning, nightmare proneness, nightmare frequency, trauma symptoms, and dream recall frequency. Regression and bootstrapped indirect association analyses were conducted while statistically controlling trauma symptoms, gender, and dream recall. Impairments in self-functions were strongly associated with nightmare proneness, and nightmare proneness was associated with greater nightmare frequency. Indirect analyses showed that self-functions were related to nightmare frequency primarily through nightmare proneness, whereas the direct association was not significant. These findings suggest that self-structure functioning influences nightmare frequency indirectly via patterns of cognitive-affective processing.