Nightmares are vivid, prolonged, and emotionally distressing dreams that cause you to wake up during the night. While nightmares themselves are common and generally harmless, their frequency may be linked to insomnia, depression, anxiety, or alcohol use. However, a new study published in the Journal of Psychology has found a link between frequent nightmares and loneliness. The study, the authors say, supports the evolutionary theory that a sense of belonging is crucial to human survival. Other factors that appear to link loneliness to nightmares include worry, rumination, and stress — conditions associated with social isolation.
Research shows that loneliness is linked to increased frequency and intensity of nightmares. Image: cdn2.unrealengine.com
Loneliness is a common condition that significantly impairs a person's well-being. It leads to suffering in various forms, including sleep disturbance.
Contents
- 1 Loneliness and Nightmares
- 2 Evolutionary Theory of Loneliness
- 3 Limitations
- 4 Coping with Loneliness
Loneliness and Nightmares
So, according to a new study, lonely people are more likely to have bad dreams. What's more, science has long known about the problems caused by social isolation, including sleep disturbances and an increased risk of heart disease and premature death. To further explore the link between loneliness and nightmares, lead author Dr. Colin Hesse of the University of Oregon collaborated with experts from the University of Arizona, the University of Tampa, and Whitworth University.
Loneliness can cause sleepless nights full of nightmares. Image: www.psypost.org
The study, which consisted of two stages, involved more than 1,600 US residents aged 18 to 81. In the first stage, scientists conducted a secondary analysis of existing data and selected 827 subjects who filled out a series of questionnaires on the proposed online platform. “To ensure representativeness, the sample was compared with the adult population of the United States by gender, age and race,” the article says.
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Loneliness was measured using the University of California Loneliness Scale, which includes questions such as “How often do you feel that you lack companionship?” and “How often do you feel left out?” Separate scales were used to determine the frequency of nightmares and the level of stress in the past month.
The second phase of the study involved 782 people recruited using similar online methods. This time, the researchers included questions on the frequency and intensity of nightmares, as well as increased anxiety and rumination. The subjects were also asked questions on the impact of nightmares on sleep quality.
Loneliness Leads to Serious Health Problems. Image: neurosciencenews.com
The results of both stages of the study were then reconciled and confirmed the scientists' hypothesis that loneliness is directly related to the frequency of nightmares: in the subjects of the first group, loneliness significantly influenced the frequency of nightmares, regardless of age and gender. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the responses showed that stress associated with loneliness contributes to an increase in nightmares.
More on the topic: 5 main reasons why people have nightmares
The results of the second group of subjects showed that loneliness also significantly affects the intensity of nightmares. In addition, worry and rumination (a kind of obsessive thought) are important mediators in the relationship between loneliness and the frequency and intensity of nightmares.
Close, meaningful relationships are so important to people that we suffer differently when this need remains unsatisfied. Feeling lonely causes stress and anxiety, which have a significant impact on the intensity and frequency of nightmares, the authors of the article explain.
Evolutionary Theory of Loneliness
Even more interestingly, the findings are consistent with the evolutionary theory of loneliness, which suggests that a real, tangible sense of belonging is crucial to human survival. The study's authors argue that interpersonal relationships are not a luxury, but a basic human need.
The evolutionary theory of loneliness, proposed by John T. Cacioppo and Stephanie Cacioppo, posits that loneliness is an adaptive mechanism evolved to signal a threat to our social connections. This anxious state motivates us to reconnect with others, much like hunger motivates us to eat. Given the importance of social connections for human survival, the theory suggests that unmet social needs may trigger an aversion response that promotes social reintegration.
Nightmares are a form of sleep disorder. Image: www.promises.com
It turns out that nightmares are actually more related to evolutionary factors than environmental influences like trauma. Lonely people suffer from stress, anxiety, and obsessive thoughts. All of these factors appear to be deeply ingrained in us through evolution.
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When our need for strong relationships is not met, we suffer physically, mentally, and socially. Just as hunger or fatigue means we are not getting enough calories or sleep, loneliness warns us that we need companionship.
Thus, good, restorative sleep is critical for cognitive function, mood regulation, metabolism, and various other aspects of well-being, so it is vital to study psychological conditions, especially loneliness, that lead to sleep disturbances.
It is too early to talk about specific interventions, but our results are certainly consistent with the possibility that combating loneliness can help eliminate nightmares, which could be explored in controlled clinical trials, says the study's lead author.
Limitations
However, as with all studies, the work of American scientists has a number of limitations that must be taken into account. According to the authors, their work is “complex in nature, so it does not allow us to state with certainty that loneliness increases the frequency and intensity of nightmares.” In addition, only adult subjects took part in the study.
The content of nightmares is also a priority area of scientific research. Image: media.licdn.com
Thus, in order to confirm the obtained results, additional research is needed, one of the important areas of which is studying the content of nightmaresthat lonely people experience. Understanding whether certain themes are more common in nightmares related to loneliness can provide greater insight into the emotional and psychological processes involved.
This is interesting: Frequent nightmares can be a sign of a dangerous illness
Coping with loneliness
Researchers also note that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of American adults reported significant levels of loneliness, and a lack of social connections increases the risk of premature death to the same extent as smoking. Moreover, loneliness increases the risk of heart disease by as much as 29%.
Those who feel isolated from society have a 32% higher risk of stroke, and in older adults, loneliness is associated with a 50% higher risk of developing dementia. The likelihood of premature death in lonely people increases by more than 60%. Not to mention the likelihood of developing depression (more than twice as high).
Loneliness leads to illness and premature death. Image: www.sleepfoundation.org
By the way, did you know that young people and adults experience loneliness differently? Read the article by my colleague Ramis Ganiev for more details!
As researchers continue to delve deeper into the connection between loneliness and nightmares, we need to remember how important human relationships are for a healthy, quality life at any age.