Neuroticism and Openness as Predictors of Social Readjustment and Nightmare Distress among Middle-Aged Adults
Hira Ashiq, Saima Bano, Muhammad Adeeb, Khawer Bilal Baig, Haiqa Arshad
The critical review of social sciences studies February 19, 2026 DOI: 10.59075/hhh32813 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 205 |
| Population | Middle-aged adults aged 35 to 60 |
| Topics | Anxiety Dreaming |
| Keywords | Neuroticism Openness to experience Distress Personality Psychological intervention Clinical psychology Coping psychology Social support |
| Key findings | Neuroticism positively predicted nightmare distress and negatively predicted social readjustment, while openness positively predicted both social readjustment and nightmare distress in middle-aged adults. |
Abstract
The present study examined neuroticism and openness as predictors of social readjustment and nightmare distress among middle-aged adults. A sample of 205 adults aged 35 to 60 years completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI), the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), and the Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ). Correlational findings indicated that neuroticism was positively associated with nightmare distress and negatively associated with social readjustment. Openness was positively associated with both social readjustment and nightmare distress. Furthermore, social readjustment was negatively associated with nightmare distress. Multiple regression analyses revealed that neuroticism and openness significantly predicted nightmare distress, with neuroticism emerging as a stronger positive predictor. Similarly, neuroticism and openness significantly predicted social readjustment, with neuroticism negatively predicting social readjustment and openness positively predicting it. These findings underscore the important role of personality traits in shaping psychological adjustment and distress during middle adulthood. The study highlights the relevance of personality-based interventions to promote adaptive coping and emotional well-being in this population.
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 |