A research paper on dreams and nightmares among the adolescent
Abstract
Many people experience nightmares and bad dreams. Besides, such dreams have effects on them depending on individual capacity. This research paper sought to establish the prevalence of dreams and nightmares among adolescent children in secondary school. The study focused on about 500 students out of the 800 adolescents in the school. Questionnaires were administered to the students who were expected to recount incidences of dreams they have had for the last year. Before responding to the questions, it was explained to them the difference between the ordinary dream and the nightmares. The study established that the prevalence of nightmares and dreams is about 5.2% for children aged 13-16 years. Also, the study showed no difference in terms of prevalence with regards to change in age. The information collected was analyzed, and the findings will inform the school administration on the prevalence to come up with ways that can be used to help those who are profoundly affected by bad dreams and nightmares.
A research paper on dreams and nightmares
Introduction
Despite improved counseling, there might be a prevalence of bad dreams and nightmares in their lives. This paper focuses on the prevalence of dreams and nightmares among children. There is a literature review on bad dreams and nightmares, research methodology, findings, and conclusion.
Dreams and Nightmares
Based on Nelson and Levin (2009), a nightmare is an intense as well as incredibly emotive dysphonic dream. Also, it wakes up a person who is deeply asleep. Also, nightmares have been describing as sleep disorders. Furthermore, fear, anger, and terror have been observed to be emotional encounters popularly connected with the nightmares. Besides, humans experience nightmares during sleep when eyes are in a rapid movement. Nightmares are very distressing dreams, emotions, or events that make the person who is dreaming to wake up (Farmer and Williams, 2004). A dream, on the other hand, is a negative or positive tone misapprehension that never makes the person dreaming to wake up (Levin and Nielsen, 2009).
Lewin (1957) observed that there are two categories of dreams. In his study, he revealed that there are dreams that never involve the body’s feeling, and therefore, they are not related to it. On the other hand, he also observed that there are dreams that include activities like humping, swimming, running, and even flying.
Literature review
Dreams are mainly based on what happened. Also, people experience dreams that are based on their past experiences. Also, the past events leading to dreams and nightmares might have occurred decades or a few hours before. Moreover, many dreams that people experience always tend to reflect places, events, people, things, and situations that the dreamer has been or seen before. However, it is in different ways or forms (Hadfield, 1954).
Bootzin and Acocella (1998) observed that anxiety dreams or nightmares could not be forgotten altogether. They observed that many people, particularly children, can comprehensively explain any event that occurred during the time they were asleep and experienced a dream. The research reveals that children aged between four and six years suffer from all kinds of nightmares.
Some epidemiological researches have shown that approximately 80% of grown-up people or adults experience nightmares not less than once within a year. Furthermore, it has been observed that nightmares are more prevalent among adolescents aged 14 years and older. Although the nightmares and dreams portray similar characteristics, no research has proven whether they are two discrete experiences or a single phenomenon occurring in varying intensities (Nielsen, Stenstrom, and Levin, 2006).
Research has shown that people who experience stressful life incidences are highly likely to have bad nightmares and dreams. Also, bad nightmares and dreams have been found to have a close connection with post-traumatic disorder resulting from stress. Therefore, it implies that people who are exposed to any traumatic event can likely experience bad nightmares and dreams (Nielsen and Levin, 2009).
Wood (1992), on his research on the prevalence of nightmares and bad dreams from Francisco and Arizona earthquakes, observed the stress from earthquakes resulted in the prevalence of nightmares and a bad dream. Therefore, this offers a clear indication that stress affects the occurrence of bad dreams as well as nightmares among the people. The study revealed that the prevalence of nightmares and bad dreams was more in Francisco, where the earthquake hit people more than other areas. Therefore, one can conclude that those who experience substantial stressful incidences are likely to experience worse nightmares and dreams.
Research has also shown a strong link between the prevalence of bad dreams, nightmares waking psychology. Based on the fact that they are medical abnormalities that are associated with emotional distress, the results from emotional agony (Fireman, 2002).
Salvio and wood (1992) discovered that the prevalence of nightmares within the odder adults was to be approximately above 4%. Besides, this was lower when compared to the rate of nightmare prevalence among college students. Mallon and Hetta (2000) found out that older adults with anxiety issues and depression experienced nightmares at the rate of 17.1% and 11.4%, respectively.
Studies have revealed that one out of 20 is likely to experience nightmares every week (Li, 2010). The waking stressors have been associated with nightmares among the people. For example, deaths, natural disasters, and stress resulting from exams have all been linked with the nightmares. (Love and Caplan, 1990).
Research Methodology
The study focused on adolescent children aged between 13-16 years old. The data collection was done using a questionnaire. The questionnaires were given in a school so that to ensure they answer and give back the survey. The researcher first explained to the students the difference between nightmares and common dreams. The students were required to recall the frequency of the nightmares and the normal dreams for the whole of the last year. The study targeted about 500 students out of 800 adolescents in the school.
Significance of the study
The information obtained from the study is useful in understanding the children in the school. After acquiring data about the prevalence. It will inform the course of action like guidance and counseling, to help the students overcome the thoughts associated with bad dreams and nightmares. Also, with the information on the prevalence of the dreams and nightmares from the students, it will be easier to recommend therapy and treatment for those who are profoundly affected by bad dreams.
Findings of the study
The study revealed that the rate of nightmares and bad dreams within the last year was 5.2%. Besides, the study showed that the rate of prevalence did not differ with age between thirteen years old and children aged 16 years old.
Conclusion
Students in high school-aged between 13 years and 16 years old are experiencing nightmares and also bad dreams. The school administrators need to identify the students who are affected and offer programs like guidance and counseling to them at a personal level to help them overcome the effect of nightmares.
References
Blagrove, M., Farmer, L., & Williams, E. (2004). The relationship of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress to well‐being. Journal of sleep research, 13(2), 129-136.
Caplan, F., & Caplan, T. (1980). Second Twelve Months of Life (Vol. 1). Bantam Books.
Hadfield, J. A. (1954). Dreams and nightmares.
Levin, R., & Fireman, G. (2002). Nightmare prevalence, nightmare distress, and self-reported psychological disturbance. Sleep, 25(2), 205-212.
Levin, R., & Nielsen, T. (2009). Nightmares, bad dreams, and emotion dysregulation: A review and new neurocognitive model of dreaming. Current Directions in psychological science, 18(2), 84-88.
Li, S. X., Zhang, B., Li, A. M., & Wing, Y. K. (2010). Prevalence and correlates of frequent nightmares: a community-based 2-phase study. Sleep, 33(6), 774-780.
Mallon, L., Broman, J. E., & Hetta, J. (2000). Sleeping difficulties in relation to depression and anxiety in elderly adults. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 54(5), 355-360.
Nielsen, T. A., Stenstrom, P., & Levin, R. (2006). Nightmare frequency as a function of age, gender, and September 11, 2001: Findings from an Internet questionnaire. Dreaming, 16(3), 145.
Salvio, M. A., Wood, J. M., Schwartz, J., & Eichling, P. S. (1992). Nightmare prevalence in the healthy elderly. Psychology and Aging, 7(2), 324.
Salvio, M. A., Wood, J. M., Schwartz, J., & Eichling, P. S. (1992). Nightmare prevalence in the healthy elderly. Psychology and Aging, 7(2), 324.
Whitty, C. W. M., & Lewin, W. (1957). Vivid Day-dreaming an Unusual Form of Confusion Following Anterior Cingulectomy. Brain, 80(1), 72-76.
Wood, J. M., Bootzin, R. R., Rosenhan, D., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Jourden, F. (1992). Effects of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake on frequency and content of nightmares. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101(2), 219.