Nightmare frequency and nightmare distress: Socio-demographic and personality factors.
Michael Schredl, Anja S Goeritz
Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil) January 1, 2019 DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20190080 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractNightmare distress—the sleep or mood disturbances that make nightmares a clinical problem—depends on more than just how often nightmares occur. A survey of 2,492 adults found that heightened emotional reactivity, measured as neuroticism, contributes to global nightmare distress, supporting the neurocognitive model of Levin and Nielsen (2007). Recurring nightmares linked to a waking-life event were associated with even higher distress. The authors suggest future research use diagnostic interviews to better understand nightmare disorder and its related variables.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,492 |
| Population | Adults who completed an online survey |
| Keywords | Mood disorders Neuroticism Nightmares Sleep disorders Surveys and questionnaires |
| Key finding | Neuroticism contributes to global nightmare distress beyond nightmare frequency, and recurring nightmares tied to a waking-life event are associated with higher distress. |
Abstract
The diagnosis of a nightmare disorder is based on clinically significant distress caused by the nightmares, e.g., sleep or mood disturbances. In order to understand nightmare etiology better empirical research should focus on studying factors that affect nightmare distress in addition to nightmare frequency. Overall, 2492 persons (1437 woman, 1055 men) completed the online survey. Nightmare frequency, global nightmare distress, and personality traits were measured. The findings indicate that in addition to nightmare frequency heightened emotional reactivity measured as neuroticism contribute to global nightmare distress and, thus, supporting the neurocognitive model of Levin and Nielsen (2007). Moreover, the recurring nightmares that relate to a waking-life event were associated with higher nightmare distress. From a clinical viewpoint, it would be desirable to carry out similar surveys using diagnostic interviews in order to determine the presence of a nightmare disorder and study the variables that are related to that diagnosis.