| dc.description.abstract | Relationships between waking life and dream content have been a subject of interest since the very beginning of human history. However, few researchers have investigated into the relationship between waking life and sexual dreams. Dreaming provides meaningful insight in understanding psychological wellbeing and mood, and sexuality could be considered especially relevant in this connection. Sexual activity may help explain incorporations of sexual content in dreams, theorized through the continuity hypothesis of dreaming and the potential function of dreams as compensatory. The present study investigates sexual dream prevalence and frequency, as well as relationships with sexual activity before sleep, sexual dreams, gender, and relationship status. A four week long diary study consisting of 87 adults was used, implementing correlational measures of variables. Results gave no significant findings in support of a connection between sexual activity and sexual dreams, neither did gender or relationship status. A marginal difference in sexual dream frequency between men and women was found. The findings do not provide support for a compensatory theory of dreaming; however, they succeed in broadening the spectrum of interest on the field. Further research should include measures of sexual fantasizing and emotional intensity, preferably through longitudinal diary studies. Achieving a deeper understanding of factors associated with sexual dream prevalence and frequency may contribute to increased knowledge about the potential functions of dreaming. This might consequently facilitate for better treatment possibilities related to psychopathology. | |
