The reflection of childhood memories in adult dreams: a psychological and physiological approach

Abstract Background Dreams reflect memory processes, incorporating long-term and autobiographical experiences. Early childhood memories, though often inaccessible consciously, may persist implicitly and appear symbolically in dreams, especially during emotional processing. This study aims to assess the frequency and themes of childhood-related memories in adult dreams in Luxor.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of 200 adults used validated questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), SLEEP-50, Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ) and Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised (EMQ-R), to assess childhood trauma, dream content, mental health and sleep quality. Participants reported dream details, which were analyzed with clinical and demographic data.

Results: Participants (mean age 32.19 ± 8.57; 49% males) showed 59% poor sleep quality. Memory-related dreams occurred in 92%, mainly daily events (24%), trauma (20%) and family (14%); parents appeared in 54%. Dreams were short (14.41 ± 4.79 min) and moderately intense. Males reported longer dreams (p = 0.039) and stronger childhood links (p < 0.001). Poor sleep was associated with longer dream duration and higher dream intensity (p < 0.001), as well as more negative affect (p = 0.003) and stronger childhood links (p < 0.001). Perceived dream duration was significantly correlated with trauma, anxiety and depression (all ps < 0.001). Anxiety was negatively associated with dream–memory continuity (p = 0.003). Regression analysis identified perceived dream duration as the only significant predictor (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Childhood adversity, poor sleep, anxiety and longer perceived dreams are associated with adult dream characteristics and weaker dream–memory continuity, supporting links between childhood experiences, autobiographical memory and dream phenomenology, with potential clinical relevance for psychological and sleep assessment.