Gender differences in dream recall: data from four representative German samples

Abstract

The review of the relevant literature indicates that women tend to recall their dreams more often than men. However, the results of the two studies carried out in representative samples conflict with each other, i.e. one study did not find a substantial gender difference in dream recall. The present study included four representative German samples and confirmed earlier findings of significant gender differences in dream recall. These differences were not modulated by age or cohort effects. Despite the consistency of this finding, the factors underlying the gender difference in dream recall are still poorly understood.