Development of disturbing dreams during adolescence and their relation to anxiety symptoms.
Tore Nielsen, L Laberge, J Paquet, R E Tremblay, F Vitaro, J Montplaisir
Sleep September 1, 2000 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/23.6.1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal observational study Cross-sectional Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 610 |
| Population | Adolescent boys and girls assessed at ages 13 and 16 |
| Duration | Assessments at ages 13 and 16 |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Humans Prevalence Adolescent behavior Dreams Mental recall Sex factors Female Psychology, adolescent Sleep wake disorders |
| Key findings | Disturbing dream recall was more prevalent in girls than boys at both ages and increased over time for girls while decreasing for boys. Frequent disturbing dreams were associated with anxiety at age 13 and with generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, and overanxious disorder symptoms at age 16 for both sexes. More overanxious disorder symptoms in girls with frequent disturbing dreams may partially account for the sex difference in disturbing dream prevalence. |
Abstract
Study
Objectives: This work assesses the prevalence and development of disturbing dreams among adolescents and the association of these dreams with anxiety.
Design: Sex differences in prevalence were analyzed with chi-square analyses. Changes over time were assessed with Wilcoxon tests and cross-tabulation tables. Associations with anxiety and DSM-III-R symptoms were assessed with ANOVA designs.
Setting: N/A.
Participants: A total of 610 boys and girls rated their recall of disturbing and normal dreams at both 13 and 16 years of age. Subgroups of subjects were evaluated for anxiety symptoms at age 13 and for DSM-III-R symptoms of separation anxiety (SA), overanxious disorder (OD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at age 16.
Interventions: N/A. Measurements and
Results: The recall of disturbing dreams was more prevalent for girls than for boys at both ages, and increased over time for girls while it decreased for boys. The recall of normal dreams was also more prevalent for girls at both ages, but this difference could not fully account for the difference in recall of disturbing dreams. Normal dream recall increased from age 13 to 16 for both sexes. The frequent occurrence of disturbing dreams was associated with anxiety at age 13 and with GAD, SA and OD symptoms at age 16 for both sexes. Evidence of more numerous OD symptoms for girls with frequent disturbing dreams suggests that this form of anxiety may partially account for the observed sex difference in disturbing dream prevalence.
Conclusions: The findings highlight a prevalence of disturbing dreams that is especially marked for adolescent girls. Unlike previous cross-sectional studies, which have found the same sex difference, this longitudinal design also calls attention to within-subjects changes in disturbing dream recall. The results also confirm that the frequent recall of disturbing dreams is associated with pathological symptoms of trait anxiety-apparently even as young as 13 years of age. Further study of disturbing dreams may contribute to understanding of associated pathophysiological factors which, too, vary by sex (e.g., PTSD, insomnia, depression).
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 49
- Nightmare Prevalence, Nightmare Distress, and Self-Reported Psychological Disturbance Sleep 2002
- Prevalence and Correlates of Frequent Nightmares: A Community-Based 2-Phase Study Sleep June 1, 2010
- My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares? Frontiers in Psychology 2019
- Nightmares affect the experience of sleep quality but not sleep architecture: an ambulatory polysomnographic study Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation February 12, 2015
- Dreaming and health promotion: A theoretical proposal and some epidemiological establishments European Journal of Mental Health June 1, 2008
and 44 more in the library
Cites 5
- Fear of Death and Nightmare Experiences Psychological Reports October 1, 1969
- Dimensions of repetition and negative affect in dreams and their relation to psychological well-being 1994
- Role of REM sleep and dream affect in overnight mood regulation: a study of normal volunteers. Psychiatry Research October 19, 1998
- Nightmares and schizotypy. Psychiatry 1998
- Alexithymia and impoverished dream recall in asthmatic patients: evidence from self-report measures. Journal of Psychosomatic Research January 1997