Why nightmares may be more distressing for highly sensitive teenagers

What is it about?

Some teenagers are more sensitive to sounds, lights, and other sensory experiences, and may feel overwhelmed more easily. This study looked at how this sensitivity relates to nightmares, and whether anxiety and mothers’ parenting may play a role. We surveyed 346 teenagers aged 14–17 in South Korea. More sensitive teenagers tended to feel more distressed by nightmares. A stronger tendency to feel anxious helped explain part of this connection. Findings about how often they had nightmares were less clear and depended on how their answers were scored. The connection between sensitivity and nightmare problems was stronger among teenagers who described their mothers as setting few limits or being less involved in their lives.

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Photo by Negar Nikkhah on Unsplash

Photo by Negar Nikkhah on Unsplash

Why is it important?

When teenagers have nightmares, it matters not only how often they happen, but also how upsetting they are. These findings suggest that anxiety and the family environment may help us understand why nightmares are more distressing for some sensitive teenagers. Helping teenagers manage anxiety and helping families establish regular sleep routines may be useful ways to support them. However, this study cannot tell us what causes these problems or whether these kinds of support would reduce nightmares.