Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience

Ornella Montebarocci; Sara Giovagnoli

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13

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Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience

Ornella Montebarocci, Sara Giovagnoli

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 8, Issue 6)

Received: 14 November 2019 Accepted: 2 December 2019 Published: 7 December 2019

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Abstract

The present research explored the relationship between alexithymia, self-reported depression and trait anxiety and dreaming experience in a non-clinical sample. Characteristics of the alexithymia trait, such as the deficit in the symbolic representation of emotions and the limited imaginative ability, can have an impact on the richness and quality of dream experience. Depression and trait anxiety are both reported to be related to alexithymia and dreaming. A group of 30 non-clinical subjects (20 females) participated in the study. Alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA), an observer-report instrument composed of 24 questions that assesses a general subjective level of alexithymia and 4 dimensions of alexithymia: Identifying emotional feelings (DIF), Describing emotional feelings (DDF), Imaginal Processes (IMP); and Externally oriented thinking (EOT). The subjective dreaming experience was assessed with the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire (MADRE), an instrument that was designed to elicit some form of dream history including dream recall frequency, use and correlates of dream, attitude towards dream and presence of different kinds of dreams experience, such as nightmares, lucid dreams, and déjà-vu. The BDI-2 and the STAI-Y2 were administered to evaluate negative affect. Two multivariate multiple regression analysis were carried on. Results showed that alexithymia was related to dream correlates and to attitude towards dream. Trait anxiety was found to be related to nightmares frequency and self-reported depression to déjà-vu event. In the future, it would be interesting to use a larger and more representative sample. The use of clinical population, such as nightmare sufferers or patients with sleep and/or mental disorders, could possibly disclosure further meaningful relationships among affect dysregulation, affect modulation and self-reported retrospective dream characteristics.

Published in	American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13
Page(s)	121-132
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Alexithymia, Depression, Trait Anxiety, Dreams Correlates, Attitude Towards Dreams

References

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APA Style

Ornella Montebarocci, Sara Giovagnoli. (2019). Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 8(6), 121-132. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13

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ACS Style

Ornella Montebarocci; Sara Giovagnoli. Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2019, 8(6), 121-132. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13

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AMA Style

Ornella Montebarocci, Sara Giovagnoli. Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience. Am J Appl Psychol. 2019;8(6):121-132. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13,
  author = {Ornella Montebarocci and Sara Giovagnoli},
  title = {Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {121-132},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20190806.13},
  abstract = {The present research explored the relationship between alexithymia, self-reported depression and trait anxiety and dreaming experience in a non-clinical sample. Characteristics of the alexithymia trait, such as the deficit in the symbolic representation of emotions and the limited imaginative ability, can have an impact on the richness and quality of dream experience. Depression and trait anxiety are both reported to be related to alexithymia and dreaming. A group of 30 non-clinical subjects (20 females) participated in the study. Alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA), an observer-report instrument composed of 24 questions that assesses a general subjective level of alexithymia and 4 dimensions of alexithymia: Identifying emotional feelings (DIF), Describing emotional feelings (DDF), Imaginal Processes (IMP); and Externally oriented thinking (EOT). The subjective dreaming experience was assessed with the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire (MADRE), an instrument that was designed to elicit some form of dream history including dream recall frequency, use and correlates of dream, attitude towards dream and presence of different kinds of dreams experience, such as nightmares, lucid dreams, and déjà-vu. The BDI-2 and the STAI-Y2 were administered to evaluate negative affect. Two multivariate multiple regression analysis were carried on. Results showed that alexithymia was related to dream correlates and to attitude towards dream. Trait anxiety was found to be related to nightmares frequency and self-reported depression to déjà-vu event. In the future, it would be interesting to use a larger and more representative sample. The use of clinical population, such as nightmare sufferers or patients with sleep and/or mental disorders, could possibly disclosure further meaningful relationships among affect dysregulation, affect modulation and self-reported retrospective dream characteristics.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience
AU  - Ornella Montebarocci
AU  - Sara Giovagnoli
Y1  - 2019/12/07
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 121
EP  - 132
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13
AB  - The present research explored the relationship between alexithymia, self-reported depression and trait anxiety and dreaming experience in a non-clinical sample. Characteristics of the alexithymia trait, such as the deficit in the symbolic representation of emotions and the limited imaginative ability, can have an impact on the richness and quality of dream experience. Depression and trait anxiety are both reported to be related to alexithymia and dreaming. A group of 30 non-clinical subjects (20 females) participated in the study. Alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA), an observer-report instrument composed of 24 questions that assesses a general subjective level of alexithymia and 4 dimensions of alexithymia: Identifying emotional feelings (DIF), Describing emotional feelings (DDF), Imaginal Processes (IMP); and Externally oriented thinking (EOT). The subjective dreaming experience was assessed with the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire (MADRE), an instrument that was designed to elicit some form of dream history including dream recall frequency, use and correlates of dream, attitude towards dream and presence of different kinds of dreams experience, such as nightmares, lucid dreams, and déjà-vu. The BDI-2 and the STAI-Y2 were administered to evaluate negative affect. Two multivariate multiple regression analysis were carried on. Results showed that alexithymia was related to dream correlates and to attitude towards dream. Trait anxiety was found to be related to nightmares frequency and self-reported depression to déjà-vu event. In the future, it would be interesting to use a larger and more representative sample. The use of clinical population, such as nightmare sufferers or patients with sleep and/or mental disorders, could possibly disclosure further meaningful relationships among affect dysregulation, affect modulation and self-reported retrospective dream characteristics.
VL  - 8
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Ornella Montebarocci

Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Sara Giovagnoli

Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

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Ornella Montebarocci, Sara Giovagnoli. (2019). Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 8(6), 121-132. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13

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ACS Style

Ornella Montebarocci; Sara Giovagnoli. Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2019, 8(6), 121-132. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13

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AMA Style

Ornella Montebarocci, Sara Giovagnoli. Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience. Am J Appl Psychol. 2019;8(6):121-132. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13,
  author = {Ornella Montebarocci and Sara Giovagnoli},
  title = {Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {121-132},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20190806.13},
  abstract = {The present research explored the relationship between alexithymia, self-reported depression and trait anxiety and dreaming experience in a non-clinical sample. Characteristics of the alexithymia trait, such as the deficit in the symbolic representation of emotions and the limited imaginative ability, can have an impact on the richness and quality of dream experience. Depression and trait anxiety are both reported to be related to alexithymia and dreaming. A group of 30 non-clinical subjects (20 females) participated in the study. Alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA), an observer-report instrument composed of 24 questions that assesses a general subjective level of alexithymia and 4 dimensions of alexithymia: Identifying emotional feelings (DIF), Describing emotional feelings (DDF), Imaginal Processes (IMP); and Externally oriented thinking (EOT). The subjective dreaming experience was assessed with the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire (MADRE), an instrument that was designed to elicit some form of dream history including dream recall frequency, use and correlates of dream, attitude towards dream and presence of different kinds of dreams experience, such as nightmares, lucid dreams, and déjà-vu. The BDI-2 and the STAI-Y2 were administered to evaluate negative affect. Two multivariate multiple regression analysis were carried on. Results showed that alexithymia was related to dream correlates and to attitude towards dream. Trait anxiety was found to be related to nightmares frequency and self-reported depression to déjà-vu event. In the future, it would be interesting to use a larger and more representative sample. The use of clinical population, such as nightmare sufferers or patients with sleep and/or mental disorders, could possibly disclosure further meaningful relationships among affect dysregulation, affect modulation and self-reported retrospective dream characteristics.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Alexithymia, Depression, Trait-anxiety and Their Relation to Self-reported Retrospective Dream Experience
AU  - Ornella Montebarocci
AU  - Sara Giovagnoli
Y1  - 2019/12/07
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 121
EP  - 132
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20190806.13
AB  - The present research explored the relationship between alexithymia, self-reported depression and trait anxiety and dreaming experience in a non-clinical sample. Characteristics of the alexithymia trait, such as the deficit in the symbolic representation of emotions and the limited imaginative ability, can have an impact on the richness and quality of dream experience. Depression and trait anxiety are both reported to be related to alexithymia and dreaming. A group of 30 non-clinical subjects (20 females) participated in the study. Alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA), an observer-report instrument composed of 24 questions that assesses a general subjective level of alexithymia and 4 dimensions of alexithymia: Identifying emotional feelings (DIF), Describing emotional feelings (DDF), Imaginal Processes (IMP); and Externally oriented thinking (EOT). The subjective dreaming experience was assessed with the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire (MADRE), an instrument that was designed to elicit some form of dream history including dream recall frequency, use and correlates of dream, attitude towards dream and presence of different kinds of dreams experience, such as nightmares, lucid dreams, and déjà-vu. The BDI-2 and the STAI-Y2 were administered to evaluate negative affect. Two multivariate multiple regression analysis were carried on. Results showed that alexithymia was related to dream correlates and to attitude towards dream. Trait anxiety was found to be related to nightmares frequency and self-reported depression to déjà-vu event. In the future, it would be interesting to use a larger and more representative sample. The use of clinical population, such as nightmare sufferers or patients with sleep and/or mental disorders, could possibly disclosure further meaningful relationships among affect dysregulation, affect modulation and self-reported retrospective dream characteristics.
VL  - 8
IS  - 6
ER  -

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