COVID-19 Effect On Dreams: New Study Of 1000 Americans

In May 2020, we asked 1000 respondents across the United States to share their experience on how COVID-19 pandemic affects their dreams. The results reveal interesting data from common themes in dream to the fact that people are getting  more vivid dreams during Coronavirus pandemic.

I. Survey Demographics

Who Took The Survey

We surveyed 1000 Americans from 18 years to 60 years and older. 56.2% of them are female while 43.3% are male.

II. Survey Results

Vivid Dream Experience During The COVID-19 Pandemic

87.3% of Americans reported that they have been experiencing unusual dream since coronavirus pandemic. 16.7% of respondents believed that their dreams have become more vivid since the pandemic

Common Themes In Vivid Dreams During The COVID-19 Pandemic

• Job and situation at work won the most common theme in Americans’ dreams over the last 3 months with 48.8% of votes
• 42.3% of participants voted for sexual and romantic experience, making this theme the runner-up in the race
• Social distancing and isolation took the third place with 30% of votes, interestingly, dreams about exes nearly reached this figure

Vivid Dream About Exes When Sleeping With Your Partner? You are Not Alone Because:

• 21.2% of Americans admitted to have vivid dreams about their exes when sleeping with their partner during the Covid-19
• Among the participants that confessed having vivid dreams about their exes when sleeping with partner, 64.4% of votes came from women while the figure is only 35.6% from men

Noticeable Changes When Waking Up From Vivid Dreams Since The COVID-19 pandemic

• Changes in emotion, specifically anxiety and confusion placed ahead of majority with 69.7% of reports while physical changes with headache and sweating took over 30.3%
• 49.8% of women experienced emotional changes after waking up from vivid dreams while the figure is 44.3% in men

Less Sleep Means More Vivid Dream? The Truth Is:

• Only 2.4% of Americans who sleep less than 4 hours have experienced vivid dream
• Meanwhile, 60.6% of participants with at least 7 hours of sleep per day are potentially vivid dreamers

Connection Between Sleep Disorders And Vivid Dreams

• 89.5% of Americans who have been diagnosed with sleep disordersVerified Source Medline PlusOnline resource offered by the National Library of Medicine and part of the National Institutes of Health.View source over the last 3 months, reported having experienced vivid unusual dreams during the pandemic
• People aged 18 to 29 are at the highest risk of having sleep disorders, with up to 64.3%. In comparison to the group of those over 60 years old, only 7.1% of respondents have been diagnosed with sleep disorders

III. Methodology And Limitations

To collect the data shown above, we launched a survey of 1000 respondents in the United States who have experienced vivid unusual dreams during the COVID-19 pandemic. An attention-checker question was included to ensure the participants did not mindlessly answer questions.

Because the survey relies on self-reporting, issues such as telescoping and exaggeration can influence responses. Please also note that this survey’s results do not reflect our opinions.

IV. Fair Use Statement

If you know someone who could benefit from our findings, feel free to share this project with them. The graphics and content are available for noncommercial reuse. All we ask is that you link back to this page so that readers get all the necessary information and our contributors receive proper credit.

V. Other Readings

• Coronavirus Pandemic And Americans Sleep (2020 Data)
• Sleep Habits Post Lockdown In The U.S. (2020)
• Sleep and the Immune System: Using Sleep to Combat the Coronavirus
• Your Pets Feel The COVID-19 Anxiety, Too
• Healthcare Worker’s Sleep During COVID-19 Pandemic In The U.S.
• How Much Americans Would Pay For a Perfect Night’s Sleep During COVID-19 Pandemic?
• Been sleeping less this last year? Well you’re not alone
• Survey: 64% Of Americans Have Nightmares About Work
• Netflix & Sleep In The U.S. (2020)