Abstract
Focusing on a specific population when studying dream characteristics can shed light on underlying mechanisms and correlates of dreaming. The aim of this study is to establish a clearer description of specific dream aspects and beliefs in a large cohort of students using a validated questionnaire, and to further investigate the role of sociodemographic variables such as age, gender and field of study. Participants were 1137 students aged from 18 to 34 (mean age: 22.2) who responded to an online version of the questionnaire. Our results showed a difference between humanities and science students, and a differential effect of gender on dream variables. Our results are discussed in light of previous investigations using the same questionnaire or focusing on the same population.
Highlights
Dreaming is a subjective psychological state that is highly correlated with the occurrence of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep [1]
Several theories have been formulated over past decades that attempt to explain dreaming, including those that assign specific functions to this process that include its potential role in emotional regulation [6,7]
By using a validated French version of the Mannheim Dream questionnaire (MADRE) questionnaire, we were able to extend previous findings obtained by surveys using the same comprehensive tool [16,17,20,21] or addressing the same population using non-specialized questionnaires [15]
Summary
Dreaming is a subjective psychological state that is highly correlated with the occurrence of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep [1]. Since the discovery of REM sleep, scientific knowledge on the relationship between dreaming and physiological measures including brain activity has accumulated [3,4,5]. Whether dreams serve any specific function or are just a byproduct of brain activity while we sleep remains a matter of debate. Several theories have been formulated over past decades that attempt to explain dreaming, including those that assign specific functions to this process (as opposed to REM sleep) that include its potential role in emotional regulation [6,7]. Due to its subjective nature, dream experience is inaccessible to objective instruments but it can be indirectly assessed by self-report measures such as questionnaires or diaries.
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