Dreaming through wartime: Self-compassion and the echoes of trauma.

Abstract

Objective: This study examines dreaming in the context of prolonged collective trauma. Specifically, it investigates whether exposure to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel, characteristics of dream life, and levels of self-compassion are associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Method: Participants were 203 Israeli adults (79% women; age range = 21-79 years, M = 38.7), recruited via social media approximately 3 months after the attacks. Dream characteristics were assessed using the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire, which measures both normative dream patterns and nightmare activity. PTSS and self-compassion were assessed using validated self-report measures. Exposure to trauma related to the October 7 events was also evaluated. Data were analyzed using correlational and regression-based approaches.

Results: Women reported significantly higher PTSS than men. Greater exposure to trauma, stronger perceived emotional influence of dreams on waking mood, higher nightmare frequency, and lower levels of self-compassion were each significantly associated with higher PTSS. Dream-related variables contributed uniquely to the explanation of PTSS beyond demographic factors.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the central role of dream life and self-compassion in psychological responses to ongoing traumatic reality. Dreams appear not only as markers of distress but also as symbolic sites for processing traumatic mental material. These results underscore the clinical relevance of attending to dream material as an early indicator of PTSS and suggest that compassion-based interventions may support trauma adaptation in contexts of prolonged collective threat. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).