Testing affect regulation theories of dreaming

Dreaming is theorized to regulate waking affect via fear extinction learning, similar to exposure therapy. We tested whether fear in dreams was associated with lower negative affect (NA) and higher positive affect (PA) on subsequent mornings and whether these effects were moderated by emotion regulation strategies or mixed dream emotion states. Additionally, we examined whether individuals with higher average dream fear showed more adaptive emotion regulation.

We employed a natural language processing tool and Bayesian multilevel modeling using online daily survey data in a community sample (n = 536; 85.6% women; Mage = 39.3 ± 17.3; days = 4715).

Frightening dreams were associated with more negative affect the following morning (+7% NA, pd = 100%), which was amplified for individuals with more adaptive emotion regulation (+3% NA, pd = 98.69). Dreams concurrently high in fear and joy were related to 20% higher odds of zero NA the next morning (pd = 97.82%). Higher average dream joy was related to 9% higher morning PA (pd = 98.79%). Individuals with higher average dream fear showed greater adaptive emotion regulation (β = 0.18, pd = 99.93%).

Findings supported affect continuity from dream to wake, yet affect regulation at the individual level. Frightening dreams were related to worse morning affect, with a more pronounced effect among high-regulation individuals. High-regulation individuals tended to experience more fearful dreams. Mixed dream emotions were related to mornings without NA, and dream joy was related to higher morning PA. Our findings suggest adaptive, though dynamic, effects of dream emotions on psychological functioning.