Exploring the Links Between Dream Experience, Nightmares, Sleep-Related Disturbances, and Subjective Well-Being

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the subjective experience of dreams, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Specifically, the study aimed to explore whether the subjective experience of dreams, including how often dreams are remembered, the presence of nightmares, and the way in which a person thinks about dreams, could influence the occurrence of subjective state and trait anxiety, as well as depression. Nightmares, a subset of dreams characterized by high distress and negative tone, were of particular interest, as they can significantly impact a person's well-being and contribute to anxiety and depression. The study also examined the possible influence of recent stress, as well as sleep-related disturbances such as insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, and nocturnal awakenings. A national online survey using Qualtrics forms was utilized to collect the data. The study involved 431 participants (124 males). All participants completed the DQ scale, a questionnaire with a three-factor structure: <i>dream recall</i>, <i>nightmare</i> <i>distress</i>, and <i>dream meaning</i>; the STAI Form Y1-Y2 and the BDI-II. Overall, results suggests that the presence of nightmares is associated with higher levels of depressive distress and increased intensity of both <i>state</i> and <i>trait</i> anxiety. Additionally, the findings indicate that depression is more severe in individuals experiencing recent stress, difficulty falling asleep, and frequent awakenings during the night. Even stable anxious traits of an individual appear to be more intense and contribute to frequent awakenings during the night. The frequency of nightmares is also linked to stress, overexertion, difficulty falling asleep, and frequent awakenings during the night. Interestingly, the memory of dreams is also related to the level of stress experienced by individuals, with those experiencing recent stress tending to recall their dreams more often. Present results are of clear clinical significance providing insight into possible treatment opportunities. Future studies should aim to utilize more representative sample, including different psychiatric populations and individuals with various sleep disorders, to further explore these associations.