Dreams and Nightmares during the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Infection: A Longitudinal Study.
Brain sciences October 20, 2021 Serena Scarpelli, Valentina Alfonsi, Maurizio Gorgoni et al. 23 citations
During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, people reported lower dream recall, fewer nightmares, less frequent lucid dreams, and reduced emotional intensity in dreams compared to the first wave. Dreams during the second wave had a more negative tone. Changes in dream frequency between the two waves were linked to post-traumatic growth, sleep-related PTSD symptoms, and sleep quality. Emotional features of dreams correlated with pandemic-related factors such as job changes, forced quarantine, having infected relatives or friends, and seeking mental health help. The findings partly support the continuity hypothesis, which links dream content to waking experiences.