Abstract

Lucid dreams are hybrid phenomena between sleep and wakefulness, with great therapeutic potential. Thus, it is possible to study the continuity of psychopathology and emotional regulation in wakefulness and dreams through defense mechanisms. Only few studies so far have confirmed that a multidimensional approach to lucid dreaming consequently has different implications in explaining the (mal)adaptability of this phenomenon to mental health. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships of different dimensions of lucid dreaming with variables of psychopathological distress. The Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), the Short Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Frequency and Intensity Questionnaire (FILD) were applied online in a sample of 665 participants. First applied to a Croatian population sample, the FILD questionnaire showed satisfactory psychometric characteristics. According to the continuity hypothesis, significant positive associations of negative emotions, number of awakenings, induction techniques and frequency of lucid dreams with symptoms of psychopathology were found. Moreover, negative significant correlations between sleep quality, desire for a new lucid dream, positive emotions and intensity of lucid dreams with the examined symptoms were found, as well as different patterns of defense mechanisms with lucidity dimensions in dreams. The obtained results show that, in addition to the quality of sleep, the number of awakenings and the desire for a new lucid dream, emotionality and induction techniques are important determinants of the psychological well-being of lucid dreamers. This represents a significant shift in research and understanding of the multidimensionality of lucid dreaming so far.