Sleep and lucid dreaming in adolescent athletes and non-athletes.

Lucid dreaming is common among adolescents: 67.4% have experienced it at least once, 30.0% once a month or more, and 12.9% at least once a week. Frequency and uses of lucid dreaming are similar between adolescent athletes and non-athletes. Among those who practiced sports or dance during a lucid dream, 57.1% reported improved waking self-efficacy, while 42.9% reported improved sport performance. There is no evidence that chronotype influences lucid dreaming or that lucid dreaming harms adolescent sleep. Athletes and controls had similar sleep durations, daytime sleepiness, and sleep disturbances, but athletes reported higher sleep quality. Although average sleep met minimum recommendations, a large proportion of adolescents did not get enough sleep, especially on weeknights (47.4% of 14-17 year olds; 20.0% of 18-21 year olds).

Study at a glance

Abstract

During lucid dreaming (LD), dreamers are aware of experiencing a dream and may consciously influence its content. This study used an online questionnaire to investigate the LD frequency and applications in 193 adolescent athletes and non-athletes (17.40 ± 2.09 years; 46% athletes, 54% controls). Given the critical role that sleep plays in adolescent health, development, and performance, associations of LD with various sleep parameters were also explored. LD is prominent in adolescents (67.4% experienced it at least once, 30.0% once a month or more, 12.9% at least once a week), but similar in terms of frequency and uses between athletes and non-athletes. A higher proportion of those who practiced sports/dance during LD reported improved waking self-efficacy (57.1%) over sport performance (42.9%). There was no indication that chronotype preference may influence LD nor that LD may be detrimental to adolescent sleep. Athletes and controls had similar sleep durations, daytime sleepiness, and sleep disturbances frequency, but athletes reported higher sleep quality. Despite, on average, meeting the minimum sleep recommendation guidelines for their age, a relatively large proportion of adolescents did not attain sufficient sleep, particularly on weeknights (47.4% 14-17 years; 20.0% 18-21 years), suggesting that restricted sleep remains prevalent in adolescent populations.