Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sleep and Dreams: Study in a Portuguese Sample

Research has shown that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were significant changes in sleep quality and dream activity. An increase in dream and nightmare recall frequency and a predominance of aversive emotional and phantasmatic dream content were recorded. The objective of the study was to analyze the pandemic's socio-occupational, psychological and experiential impact, focusing on sleep quality, dream/nightmare recall, and the emotional content of dreams in a sample of Portugal's adult resident population. Online data collection involved 1,020 adults >= 18 years (67.1% women). The research protocol included several questions regarding demographics, subjective experience of the pandemic, and its perceived impact on respondents' personal social networks, sleep habits, and dream content. The pandemic substantially affected participants' social interactions and mental health, with 17.2% reporting the death of a significant person. Overall sleep quality decreased during the pandemic, whereas dream/nightmare recall increased, and 27% of the respondents dreamed about COVID-19, reporting negative emotions and sensations in these dreams. Higher dream/nightmare recall was especially related to changes in sleep patterns, namely, increased nocturnal awakenings and sleep latency. Younger people, those belonging to a high-risk group, those reporting a higher subjective concern about the pandemic, those experiencing the death of a significant person, and those with self-reported employment and mental health problems were more likely to dream about COVID-19. Our findings add to psychological sleep and dream research regarding the function of dreams during collective stressful events. Considering the significant connection among mental health, sleep patterns, and dream content, research and clinical implications are discussed.