Dream Recall and Nightmare Frequency: A Family Study
Michael Schredl, Claudia Barthold, Josepha Zimmer
Perceptual and Motor Skills June 1, 2006 DOI: 10.2466/pms.102.3.878-880 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractNightmare frequency correlates between children and mothers but not between children and fathers, suggesting a socialization effect in which mothers, as primary caregivers, may influence how often children report nightmares. Dream recall frequency shows only a small, nonsignificant relationship between children and mothers. These findings support Cohen's 1973 hypothesis that family environment, particularly maternal influence, shapes nightmare frequency and possibly dream recall.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Families |
| Key finding | Nightmare frequencies are positively correlated between children and mothers but not between children and fathers; dream recall frequency shows a small and nonsignificant relationship. |
Abstract
The present study investigated dream recall as well as nightmare frequency in families. Whereas a positive correlation for nightmare frequencies between children and mothers was found (but not for children and their fathers), the relationship for dream recall frequency was small and nonsignificant. Assuming that mothers are still the primary caregivers in the modern family, and, thus, might encourage or discourage children to talk about their dreams, the findings of the study support Cohen's 1973 hypothesis of a socialization effect on nightmare frequency and maybe a smaller effect on dream recall frequency.