Gender differences in dream recall: a meta‐analysis
Michael Schredl, Iris Reinhard
Journal of Sleep Research June 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00626.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy persons in five age groups |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | Gender differences in dream recall vary by age, with the smallest effect in children and the largest in adolescents. |
Abstract
SummaryMany studies have reported gender differences in dream recall. Data from 175 independent studies have been included in the analyses. Overall, estimated effect sizes in five age groups of healthy persons differed significantly from zero. Variables like measurement method and publication year did not affect the gender difference but age groups showed different effect sizes. The smallest effect size was found for children (0.097), the largest for adolescents (0.364), whereas the three adult groups ranged from 0.242 to 0.270. The findings suggest that the age‐dependent gender differences in dream recall might be explained by gender‐specific ‘dream socialization’. Longitudinal studies in this area, however, are still lacking.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreaming as mind wandering: evidence from functional neuroimaging and first-person content reports. | 2013 | Systematic review with meta-analytic comparison | |
| Lucid dreaming incidence: A quality effects meta-analysis of 50 years of research | 2016 | Meta-analysis | |
| The effectiveness of lucid dreaming therapy in patients with nightmares: A systematic review. Adults with chronic and recurring nightmares | 2023 | Systematic review | |
| The relationships between insomnia, nightmares, and dreams: A systematic review Individuals without a concomitant psychopathology, including those with insomnia or... | 2024 | Systematic review | |
| Psychosocial treatments for nightmares in adults and children: a systematic review | 2023 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 74
- Prevalence and Correlates of Frequent Nightmares: A Community-Based 2-Phase Study Sleep June 1, 2010
- The Phenomenology of Lucid Dreaming: An Online Survey The American Journal of Psychology April 21, 2014
- Frequency of Lucid Dreaming in a Representative German Sample Perceptual and Motor Skills February 1, 2011
- Lucid dreaming: an age‐dependent brain dissociation Journal of Sleep Research May 29, 2012
- Dreaming and the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey in a U.S. sample. Dreaming September 1, 2020
and 69 more in the library
Cites 11
- Questionnaires and diaries as research instruments in dream research: Methodological issues. Dreaming March 1, 2002
- Factors of home dream recall: a structural equation model Journal of Sleep Research May 12, 2003
- Dream Recall: State or Trait Variable? Part I: Model, Theories, Methodology and Trait Factors Imagination, Cognition and Personality October 1, 1996
- Age changes in dream recall in adulthood. Dreaming March 1, 1996
- Dream Reports and Autobiographical Memory Imagination, Cognition and Personality March 1, 1990
and 6 more in the library