The behavioral effects of frequent nightmares on objective stress tolerance.
Kevin Dionisio Hochard, Nadja Heym, Ellen Townsend
Dreaming March 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1037/drm0000013 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational case-control comparison Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 85 |
| Population | Adults experiencing frequent nightmares (n = 43) and controls (n = 42) |
| Measures | Paced Visual Serial Addition Task-Computerized (PVSAT-C) |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Participants with frequent nightmares endured the stressful Paced Visual Serial Addition Task for a shorter duration than controls, a significant main effect of nightmare frequency. The authors interpret this as reduced stress tolerance among people with frequent nightmares, which they suggest increases daily vulnerability to stressful stimuli. |
Abstract
Frequent nightmares have been linked to daily distress using self-report measures. The present study investigated the impact of frequent nightmares on a stressful cognitive test requiring participants to perform additions of 2 previously displayed single digit numbers from a number series, where display latency between digits becomes increasingly short—the Paced Visual Serial Addition Task-Computerized (PVSAT-C). Participants experiencing frequent nightmares (n = 43) and controls (n = 42) were compared on PVSAT-C performance. A significant main effect of nightmare frequency was observed with participants in the frequent nightmare group enduring the task for a shorter duration than controls (a behavioral measure of stress tolerance). Results suggest that individuals experiencing frequent nightmares have a reduced tolerance for stressors, leading to increased daily vulnerability to stressful stimuli. This study confirms previous findings linking nightmares and daily distress and extends the literature by providing objective evidence for the link between nightmares and reduced stress tolerance through behavioral testing. These findings highlight nightmares as a salient target for clinical intervention.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Bad dream, nightmares and psychopathology: a systematic review Frontiers in Psychiatry October 8, 2024
- The Relationship between Nightmare Experience and Athletes’ Personality Traits and Anxiety International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health October 8, 2022
- Psychometric properties of the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index-Korean version. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine March 1, 2021
- Differentiating Single and Multiple Suicide Attempters: What Nightmares Can Tell Us That Other Predictors Cannot. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine May 15, 2018
Cites 6
- The relationship of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress to well‐being Journal of Sleep Research May 26, 2004
- Nightmare frequency in a representative German sample University Library Heidelberg 2013
- Nightmares: Prevalence among the Finnish General Adult Population and War Veterans during 1972-2007. Sleep July 1, 2013
- Replication and expansion of "Best Practice Guide for the Treatment of Nightmare Disorder in Adults". Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine October 1, 2011
- Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine August 1, 2010
and 1 more in the library