The role of mindful acceptance and lucid dreaming in nightmare frequency and distress.
Scientific reports – September 21, 2022
Source: PubMed
Summary
Frequent lucid dreamers reported lower nightmare frequency, highlighting a strong link between mindfulness and dream quality. In a study of 338 participants, those with high mindful acceptance experienced fewer nightmares. A second study with 187 frequent lucid dreamers showed positive correlations between lucid dreaming and mindfulness, particularly among individuals practicing meditation and lucid induction techniques. These findings suggest that cultivating mindfulness may enhance dream experiences and reduce nightmares, potentially offering clinical benefits for anxiety-related sleep disturbances.
Abstract
A theoretical and empirical association between lucid dreaming and mindfulness, as well as lucid dreaming and nightmares has previously been observed; however, the relationship between nightmares and mindfulness has received surprisingly little attention. Here, we present the findings of two studies exploring the relation of nightmare frequency and distress with two components of mindfulness, termed presence and acceptance, as well as lucid dreaming. Study 1 (N = 338) consisted of a low percentage of frequent lucid dreamers whereas Study 2 (N = 187) consisted primarily of frequent lucid dreamers that used lucid dream induction training techniques and meditation. Across studies, nightmare-related variables showed a more robust association with mindful acceptance as opposed to mindful presence. Moreover, individuals with high levels of meditation expertise and practice of lucid dreaming induction techniques reported lower nightmare frequency. Finally, in Study 2, which consisted of frequent lucid dreamers, a positive correlation between lucid dreaming frequency and mindfulness was apparent. The present findings support the notion that wakeful mindfulness is associated with the quality of dreams and extend previous research by suggesting a disentangled role of the two facets of mindfulness in dream variation. This association remains open for experimental manipulation, the result of which could have clinical implications.