Dreams, Sleep Quality, and Collective Trauma

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the dreams of a group of Italian participants. A total of 403 individuals were recruited online through a cross-sectional survey on Moodle. The qualitative content of their dreams was analysed using the Dream Interview (TKYDQ), a tool created by Bulkeley. In addition, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the quantitative aspects of dreams. From the results of our study, three macro-categories of content in the participants' dreams were identified: 1) dreams with phobic content; 2) dreams with a persecutory theme and 3) “old normal” dreams. Moreover, some sleep-related difficulties such as problems falling asleep and mild clinical sleep disorders were identified in the sample. The prolonged quarantine and the lifestyle adopted during the pandemic have intensely influenced our dream activities, and it seems that COVID-19 has already entered our collective unconscious in a symbolic way and through the processing of images and scenes related to the epidemic. The study, therefore, aims to explore how catastrophic events affect mental health, specifically sleep quality and dream content.