Attitudes Toward Dreaming Predict Subjective Well-Being Outcomes Mediated Through Emotional Positivity Bias

Abstract

The current study examined how attitudes toward dreams, as well as an appraisal of typical emotions experienced in dreams, predicted greater subjective well-being. Participants completed a measure of attitude and beliefs about dreams, and appraised their positive and negative dream affect in an average dream. Additionally, participants completed measures of typical daily affect (positive and negative) along with life satisfaction, as measures of subjective well-being. Results showed that having a positive attitude toward dreams was associated with life satisfaction and positive waking affect, and that these associations were fully mediated by a high ratio of positive to negative emotional appraisal for dreams. This emotional positivity bias in dream recall was the link between positive attitudes toward dreams and psychological health. Results remained significant while controlling for other variables related to the experience of dreaming (emotional intensity and recall/frequency). Implications for subjective well-being are discussed.