A moderated mediation analysis of lucid nightmares and emotion regulation

Abstract

This study tested whether the mediation effect of nightmare lucidity and volitional control on the association between nightmares and lucid dreams was moderated by dispositional emotion regulation. A total of 238 Chinese young adults were invited to complete the modified Dream Intensity Scale and Perth Emotion Regulation Competency Inventory. The PROCESS Marco analysis supported the mediation effect of nightmare lucidity and volitional control, which was moderated by dispositional emotion regulation. Specifically, the difficulty of regulating positive emotions might paradoxically increase the dreamer’s experience of becoming lucid and having volitional control in a nightmare; on the other hand, the competence of regulating negative emotions could enhance the prediction of lucid dreams with nightmare lucidity and volitional control. This suggests that the inclinations toward downregulating negative emotions and losing control over positive emotions in waking life play a part in a transitional state leading from a nightmare to a lucid dream.