Nightmares in children: Influencing factors

The present study investigated the relationship between nightmare frequency and both sleep and waking-life behavior in children aged 6 to 11 years. The prevalence rate of nightmares was 41 % and 5 % experienced nightmares once a week or more often. In the present sample, girls' nightmare frequency exceeded that of boys. The results indicate that parasomnias such as nightmares, night terrors and sleepwalking often occurred together. With regard to personality, the findings support previous studies in adolescents and adults which have shown a relationship between 'thin boundaries' and nightmare frequency. As expected, the occurrence of stressors (school problems, parental divorce) affected nightmare frequency. However, correlations were small and inconsistent, so that future studies should be performed to elicit the temporal pattern of stress and nightmares.