ABSTRACT

Background: The Disturbing Dreams and Nightmares Severity Index (DDNSI) is commonly used when assessing the experience of nightmares. It comprises two parts examining i) chronicity and ii) nightmare consequences. The primary aim of the present study was to explore the dimensional structure of the optional and currently unvalidated nightmare consequences component using exploratory factor analysis. Internal reliability and construct validity were also examined. A secondary aim explored the relationships between nightmare chronicity and perceived consequences with measures of anxiety, depression, stress, self-efficacy, and insomnia.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with complete data from N = 757 students from six UK-based universities. Participants completed the chronicity and consequences components of the DDNSI, alongside the Sleep Condition Indicator, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Perceived Stress Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale.

Results: Two nightmare consequences factors emerged; ‘Sleep-Interference’ (four items; α =.848), and ‘Psychosocial Well-being’ (six items; α =.946). Significantly moderate correlations were observed between the two emerging factors and the nightmare chronicity component, as well as with insomnia, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and self-efficacy. Perceived ‘Sleep-Interference’ (β =−.241) was the strongest predictor of insomnia, and ‘Psychosocial wellbeing’ was the strongest predictor of anxiety (β =.688) depression (β =.804) perceived stress and lower self-efficacy.

Conclusions: The perceived nightmare consequences component of the DDSNI is a multidimensional construct comprising two internally consistent and distinct, but related dimensions. The potential importance of distinguishing between types of perceived nightmare consequences and the associations with mental health outcomes in a student population is highlighted.

摘要

背景：在评估噩梦体验时，通常使用令人不安的梦境和噩梦严重程度指数 (DDNSI)。它包括两个部分，分别检查 i) 长期性和 ii) 噩梦后果。本研究的主要目的是使用探索性因素分析探索可选的和当前未验证的噩梦后果组件的维度结构。还检查了内部信度和结构效度。第二个目的是通过焦虑、抑郁、压力、自我效能感和失眠的测量来探索噩梦的长期性与感知后果之间的关系。

方法：对来自六所英国大学的 N = 757 名学生的完整数据进行了横断面调查。参与者完成了 DDNSI 的慢性期和后果部分，以及睡眠状况指标、患者健康问卷 9、广泛性焦虑症 7、感知压力量表和一般自我效能量表。

结果：出现了两个噩梦后果因素；“睡眠干​​扰”（四项；α  =.848）和“心理社会福利”（六项；α  =.946）。在这两个新出现的因素与噩梦慢性成分之间以及与失眠、焦虑、抑郁、压力感知和自我效能感之间观察到显着的中等相关性。感知到的“睡眠干扰” ( β  =-.241) 是失眠的最强预测因子，而“心理社会健康”是焦虑 ( β  =.688) 抑郁 ( β  =.804) 感知压力和自我降低的最强预测因子功效。

结论：DDSNI 的感知噩梦后果组件是一个多维结构，包括两个内部一致和不同但相关的维度。强调了区分感知到的噩梦后果类型以及与学生群体心理健康结果的关联的潜在重要性。