Holzinger Brigitte, Nierwetberg Franziska, Chung Frances, Bolstad Courtney J, Bjorvatn Bjørn, Chan Ngan Yin, Dauvilliers Yves, Espie Colin A, Han Fang, Inoue Yuichi, Leger Damien, Macêdo Tainá, Matsui Kentaro, Merikanto Ilona, Morin Charles M, Mota-Rolim Sérgio A, Partinen Markku, Plazzi Giuseppe, Penzel Thomas, Sieminski Mariusz, Wing Yun Kwok, Scarpelli Serena, Nadorff Michael R, De Gennaro Luigi
Institute for Consciousness and Dream Research, Vienna, Austria.
Medical University Vienna, Postgraduate Master ULG Sleep Coaching, Vienna, Austria.
Nat Sci Sleep. 2022 Aug 26;14:1469-1483. doi: 10.2147/NSS.S368147. eCollection 2022.
The COVID-19 pandemic affects mental health and sleep, resulting in frequent nightmares. Therefore, identifying factors associated with nightmare frequency is important, as it can indicate mental health issues. The study aimed to investigate increases in nightmare frequency comparing the pre-pandemic and pandemic period, and identify its risk factors. Further, the mediating role of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms between the pandemic and nightmares is explored.
For this cross-sectional survey data were obtained via self-rating online survey (ICOSS: details in Partinen et al, 2021), which was open to anyone older than 18 years. The final volunteer sample consisted of 15,292 participants, divided according to their nightmare frequency (high: ≥1-2 nights/week; low: <1-2 nights/week). A total of 9100 participants were excluded if answers on variables of interest were missing or receiving rewards for participation. Chi-square tests identified changes of nightmare frequency. Predictors of high nightmare frequency were assessed using logistic regression and presented as Odds Ratios. Post-hoc mediation models were used to investigate the role of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).
The mean age was 41.63 (SD=16.55) with 64.05% females. High nightmare frequency increased significantly from 13.24% to 22.35% during the pandemic. Factors associated with it included self-reported PTSS (OR=2.11), other mental disorders and various sleep disorders or problems. Financial burden due to the pandemic, confinement, having had COVID-19, and work situation during the pandemic were associated with nightmare frequency, those relations were partly mediated through PTSS.
Our results display the pandemic influence on nightmare frequency, which in turn connects to multiple mental health and sleep factors. These relations were partly mediated through PTSS. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have caused traumatization of a substantial proportion of society. Health care workers should consider nightmares in their screening routines, as it might indicate PTSS and/or other mental and sleep disorders.
新冠疫情影响心理健康和睡眠，导致频繁出现噩梦。因此，识别与噩梦频率相关的因素很重要，因为这可能预示着心理健康问题。本研究旨在调查疫情前和疫情期间噩梦频率的增加情况，并确定其风险因素。此外，还探讨了创伤后应激障碍症状在疫情与噩梦之间的中介作用。
在这项横断面调查中，数据通过在线自评调查（ICOSS：详情见Partinen等人，2021年）获取，该调查对所有18岁以上的人开放。最终的志愿者样本包括15292名参与者，根据他们的噩梦频率进行划分（高：每周≥1 - 2晚；低：每周<1 - 2晚）。如果感兴趣变量的答案缺失或因参与获得奖励，则总共9100名参与者被排除。卡方检验确定噩梦频率的变化。使用逻辑回归评估高噩梦频率的预测因素，并以优势比表示。事后中介模型用于研究创伤后应激症状（PTSS）的作用。
平均年龄为41.63岁（标准差 = 16.55），女性占64.05%。疫情期间，高噩梦频率从13.24%显著增加到22.35%。与之相关的因素包括自我报告的PTSS（优势比 = 2.11）、其他精神障碍以及各种睡眠障碍或问题。疫情导致的经济负担、居家隔离、感染过新冠以及疫情期间的工作状况与噩梦频率相关，这些关系部分通过PTSS介导。
我们的结果显示了疫情对噩梦频率的影响，而噩梦频率又与多种心理健康和睡眠因素相关。这些关系部分通过PTSS介导。新冠疫情似乎已导致相当一部分社会群体受到创伤。医护人员在筛查程序中应考虑噩梦情况，因为这可能预示着PTSS和/或其他精神及睡眠障碍。
