High Thought Suppressors Dream More Of Their Negative Waking-Life Experiences Than Low Thought Suppressors

Research has found that high thought suppressors dream more of their emotional waking-life experiences than low suppressors, in line with the dream rebound effect. The present study replicated and extended this finding. Participants (N = 62) completed the White Bear Suppression Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and answered questions about their most recent dream. High thought suppressors dreamt more of their negative (but not positive) emotional experiences from waking-life than low thought suppressors. They also had poorer sleep quality and higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The results indicate a negative relationship between trait thought suppression and well-being. Identifying problematic suppressed thoughts in dream content may assist in generating insights into them and/or have therapeutic benefit.