Associations between stress and sensory sensitivity as risk factors for nightmares
Jamie Bueno, Petroc Sumner, Brittany Bueno
International Journal of Dream Research May 4, 2026 DOI: 10.11588/ijodr.2026.2.115835 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study (mediation analysis) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 104 |
| Population | Adults with a range of sensory processing sensitivity and PTSD symptomology |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | Both direct and indirect (via PTSD) pathways between sensory processing sensitivity and nightmare frequency, severity, and distress were significant. Depth of processing and overstimulation were the strongest SPS predictors of PTSD and nightmares, contrary to the expected role of emotional reactivity. |
Abstract
Nightmares are considered a hallmark symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A risk factor for nightmares may be sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), a constellation of traits involving increased responsivity to sensory stimulation and emotion, and deeper cognitive processing. Here we tested whether this relationship between SPS and nightmares mainly occurs when stress or trauma are sufficient to create PTSD symptoms – in other words whether the known relationship between SPS and PTSD fully mediates any relationship between SPS and nightmares, or whether there is a more direct relationship between SPS and nightmare experiences. In a mediation analysis (N= 104 with a range of SPS and PTSD symptomology and nightmare frequency, severity, and distress), we found both indirect and direct pathways were significant. Secondly, SPS is a constellation of four correlated dimensions: depth of processing, overstimulation, emotional reactivity and sensing the subtle (DOES). We tested which of these dimensions best accounts for the association with PTSD and nightmares. Surprisingly, the strongest predictors were depth of processing and overstimulation, rather than the expected emotional reactivity. Thus, sensory processing patterns could be a key factor in understanding the aetiology of nightmares in trauma-related disorders.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Dreaming: a State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming Student volunteers trained to become lucid and signal lucidity with horizontal eye... | 2009 | Observational study | n = 6 |
| Nightmare Prevalence, Nightmare Distress, and Self-Reported Psychological Disturbance Young adults with a mean age of 20 years | 2002 | Prospective observational study | n = 116 |
| Long-term effects of extreme situational stress on sleep and dreaming Survivors of traumatic events who complained of sleep disturbances, compared with... | 1987 | Case-control study | n = 11 |
| The relationship of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress to well‐being Adults who reported dreams | 2004 | Observational cohort | n = 147 |
| The prevalence of nightmares and their independence from anxiety. Undergraduates | 1990 | Observational study using daily dream logs | n = 220 |