Exploring the Links Between Dream Experience, Nightmares, Sleep-Related Disturbances, and Subjective Well-Being
Ornella Montebarocci, Paola Surcinelli, Sara Giovagnoli
American Journal of Applied Psychology May 10, 2023 DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.20231202.13 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 431 |
| Population | National online survey participants (124 males) |
| Topics | Anxiety Dreaming Lucid dreaming |
| Keywords | Distress Dass Depression economics Trait Clinical psychology Developmental psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Nightmares are associated with higher levels of depressive distress and increased intensity of both state and trait anxiety. |
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the subjective experience of dreams, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Specifically, the study aimed to explore whether the subjective experience of dreams, including how often dreams are remembered, the presence of nightmares, and the way in which a person thinks about dreams, could influence the occurrence of subjective state and trait anxiety, as well as depression. Nightmares, a subset of dreams characterized by high distress and negative tone, were of particular interest, as they can significantly impact a person's well-being and contribute to anxiety and depression. The study also examined the possible influence of recent stress, as well as sleep-related disturbances such as insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, and nocturnal awakenings. A national online survey using Qualtrics forms was utilized to collect the data. The study involved 431 participants (124 males). All participants completed the DQ scale, a questionnaire with a three-factor structure: dream recall, nightmare distress, and dream meaning; the STAI Form Y1-Y2 and the BDI-II. Overall, results suggests that the presence of nightmares is associated with higher levels of depressive distress and increased intensity of both state and trait anxiety. Additionally, the findings indicate that depression is more severe in individuals experiencing recent stress, difficulty falling asleep, and frequent awakenings during the night. Even stable anxious traits of an individual appear to be more intense and contribute to frequent awakenings during the night. The frequency of nightmares is also linked to stress, overexertion, difficulty falling asleep, and frequent awakenings during the night. Interestingly, the memory of dreams is also related to the level of stress experienced by individuals, with those experiencing recent stress tending to recall their dreams more often. Present results are of clear clinical significance providing insight into possible treatment opportunities. Future studies should aim to utilize more representative sample, including different psychiatric populations and individuals with various sleep disorders, to further explore these associations.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insomnia Symptoms, Nightmares, and Suicidal Ideation in a College Student Sample Undergraduate students at a large, public university in the southeastern United States | 2011 | Observational cross-sectional survey | n = 583 |
| Prevalence and Correlates of Frequent Nightmares: A Community-Based 2-Phase Study Middle-aged Hong Kong Chinese adults from the community, mean age 40.9 years (SD 5.5,... | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey with subsequent clinical evaluation (two-phase design) | n = 8,558 |
| Factors of home dream recall: a structural equation model Adults (general population sample) | 2003 | Cross-sectional survey with structural equation modeling | n = 444 |
| The Phenomenology of Lucid Dreaming: An Online Survey Respondents to an online survey about lucid dreams | 2014 | Online survey | n = 684 |
| Frequency of Lucid Dreaming in a Representative German Sample Representative sample of German adults | 2011 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 919 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- The relationship of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress to well‐being Journal of Sleep Research May 26, 2004
- Dreaming correlates of alexithymia among sleep-disordered patients. Dreaming March 1, 2011
- Sleep spindle and psychopathology characteristics of frequent nightmare recallers. Sleep Medicine October 1, 2018
- Development of disturbing dreams during adolescence and their relation to anxiety symptoms. Sleep September 1, 2000