Loneliness increases the frequency and intensity of nightmares

People experiencing loneliness are more prone to nightmares, reveals a study by Oregon State University. Loneliness significantly hinders well-being and causes various forms of distress, including sleep disturbances. Nightmares are a common manifestation, as shown by the researchers' results.


Loneliness, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a "social pain related to not feeling connected to others," has significant impacts on mental and physical health. A recent study published in the Journal of Psychology established a link between loneliness and the increased frequency and intensity of nightmares. These findings come from surveys conducted among more than 1,600 American adults, aged 18 to 81.

According to Colin Hesse, the study's lead author, interpersonal relationships are a fundamental human need. When this need is unmet, individuals suffer physically, mentally, and socially. Stress, rumination, and hypervigilance, all exacerbated by loneliness, contribute to the occurrence of nightmares. Colin Hesse points out that stress is part of the connection between loneliness and the frequency of nightmares, while rumination and hypervigilance resulting from anxiety amplify this phenomenon.

Researchers at Oregon State University note that their findings do not establish a direct causal relationship but rather a correlational link between loneliness and nightmares. They suggest that nightmares are one way in which the quality of sleep is affected by loneliness.

It is still too soon to propose specific interventions against loneliness aimed at reducing nightmares. However, Colin Hesse indicates that their results are consistent with the idea that addressing loneliness could lessen nightmares. This hypothesis will need to be confirmed by controlled clinical studies.

Furthermore, the U.S. Surgeon General's office reports that before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of American adults experienced some degree of loneliness. This lack of social connection raises the risk of premature death to a level comparable to smoking. Loneliness also leads to increased risks of heart disease, strokes, and dementia in older adults, as well as a higher likelihood of depression.