Typical dreams and mental health among Generation-Z

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Dreams of falling, being chased, or teeth falling out are tied to mental health in Gen Z

What did they do?

This study surveyed 120 young adults on 56 common dream themes and their psychological symptoms.

Participants completed questionnaires about typical dreams (like falling, being chased, or school) and mental health measures including depression, anxiety, OCD, and somatization.

What did they find?

Falling dreams were most common (62.5%).

• Being chased linked with higher depression and anxiety.

• Teeth falling out linked with OCD and somatization.

• Being attacked tied to depression, anxiety, and somatization.

Results suggest that frequent dream themes may reflect underlying mental health patterns in Generation Z.

Sharma, S., & Hawa, R. (2025). Unlocking the connection: Typical dreams and mental health among Generation-Z. International Journal of Dream Research, 18(1), 16–23. https://doi.org/10.11588/ijodr.2025.1.105924