Nightmare frequency and nightmare distress: relationship to the big five personality factors and sensory-processing sensitivity
Previous research has shown that Big Five personality factors such as Neuroticism and Openness to Experience are related to both the frequency and severity of nightmares. Recent theoretical and empirical work suggests that trait sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS), characterized by heightened emoti...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
August 4, 2022
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| In: |
Dreaming
Year: 2022, Volume: 32, Issue: 3, Pages: 257-268 |
| ISSN: | 1573-3351 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/drm0000214 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000214 Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fdrm0000214 
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| Author Notes: | Michelle Carr, Rina Heymann, Anna Lisson, Nika Marie Werne, and Michael Schredl |
| Summary: | Previous research has shown that Big Five personality factors such as Neuroticism and Openness to Experience are related to both the frequency and severity of nightmares. Recent theoretical and empirical work suggests that trait sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS), characterized by heightened emotional and sensory sensitivity, may better describe nightmare-prone individuals. The current study aimed to test whether SPS factors (Low Sensory Threshold, Ease of Excitation, and Aesthetic Sensitivity) contribute to nightmare frequency and nightmare distress in addition to the well-known associations with neuroticism and openness to experience. A survey study of 1,807 individuals (1,008 woman, 799 men; age = 47.75 ± 14.41 years) assessed Big Five personality factors, SPS factors, and nightmare frequency and distress in addition to sociodemographic factors. Regression analyses were conducted to test for relationships between trait factors and nightmare frequency and distress. We replicated previous findings that neuroticism is related to both nightmare frequency and nightmare distress. In addition to neuroticism, regression analyses showed that the SPS factors of Low Sensory Threshold (i.e., sensitivity to stimuli such as bright lights and loud noises), and to a lesser extent Aesthetic Sensitivity, contributed to nightmare frequency. In addition to both neuroticism and nightmare frequency, Ease of Excitation (i.e., propensity to being overwhelmed by external and internal stimuli) contributed to nightmare distress. Overall, the findings support theoretical models of SPS as a unique trait predictor of both nightmare frequency and nightmare distress; findings may be relevant to clinical approaches to treating nightmares. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 18.09.2023 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1573-3351 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/drm0000214 |