The Oneiric Activity during and after the COVID-19 Total Lockdown in Italy: A Longitudinal Study.
International journal of environmental research and public health March 24, 2022 Maurizio Gorgoni, Serena Scarpelli, Valentina Alfonsi et al. 7 citations
Dream activity significantly shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a sample of 108 participants revealing reduced dream frequency from 43% during total lockdown to 22% post-lockdown. Emotional intensity and vividness also declined, with fear remaining the dominant emotion in dreams (26.9% at lockdown, 22.2% post-lockdown). Despite improved sleep latency and fewer PTSD-related disruptions post-lockdown, poor sleep quality and high anxiety persisted. These findings suggest that the pandemic's emotional toll continues to shape our dreams, supporting the continuity hypothesis.