The Association between Reported Nightmares and Depressive Symptoms in a Non-Clinical Large Sample of Arab Students

Background:Research studies on sleep medicine and disorders using Arab participants are limited, particularly the relationship between nightmares and psychopathology. Cross-cultural studies may help to better understand this association. Objective:The present study aimed to explore the correlation between reported nightmare and depressive symptoms in an under-studied sample of Arab students. Methods:A convenience non-clinical sample of 8, 218 school and university Arab students was recruited. They were 13 age groups from 12 to 24 years. The self-rating scale of nightmares was assessed based on the participant's perceived frequency during the last month. Likert-type response was used as follows: 0 (No), 1 (A little), 2 (Moderate), 3 (Much), and 4 (Very much). The Center for Epidemiological Studies – depression Scale was used. Results:All the Pearson correlations between reported nightmares and depressive symptoms were statistically significant and positive in all the 13 age groups and ranged from 0.295 to 0.619 with a median of 0.402. Conclusion:based on a large sample of Arab students, and consistent with Western findings, the experience of nightmares associated with depressive symptoms. Future research would investigate their co-morbidity in a clinical sample.