Abstract
Nightmare proneness, a trait-like tendency to experience nightmares frequently, has been found to predict nightmares independent of maladjustment markers and involve vulnerability, psychical dysregulation, and a concretizing defensive style. However, research has not investigated possible etiological factors of nightmare proneness itself. The current study examined some hypothesized etiological factors of nightmare proneness. Measures of nightmare proneness, nightmare frequency, behavioral activating system, behavioral inhibition system, arousability, executive functioning, anxious and avoidant attachment, trauma, and psychic structure were completed by a sample of 110 university students. Findings supported that nightmare proneness might be influenced by activation of the behavioral inhibition system, avoidant attachment, and trauma symptoms after adjusting for age, gender, mental health concerns, and complex trauma sequelae. Psychic structure did not appear essential for development of nightmare proneness but influenced the relationship between nightmare proneness and nightmare frequency. The results and possible adjustments to a previous model of nightmare proneness are discussed.
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