Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk
Nightmares have been shown to be robust predictors of self-harm risk, beyond depressive symptoms and hopelessness at times. However, few studies have investigated associations between nightmare content and increased self-harm risk. The present study explored associations of thematic nightmare conten...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44515/ |
| _version_ | 1848796933819203584 |
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| author | Hochard, Kevin D. Ashcroft, Sam Carroll, Janine Heym, Nadja Townsend, Ellen |
| author_facet | Hochard, Kevin D. Ashcroft, Sam Carroll, Janine Heym, Nadja Townsend, Ellen |
| author_sort | Hochard, Kevin D. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Nightmares have been shown to be robust predictors of self-harm risk, beyond depressive symptoms and hopelessness at times. However, few studies have investigated associations between nightmare content and increased self-harm risk. The present study explored associations of thematic nightmare content with history of self-harm, and risk of self-harm phenomena the morning following a nightmare. A mixed-method diary study was employed. Prospective nightmare reports were obtained from 72 participants. A total of 47 nightmare reports met inclusion criteria and were analyzed for themes using inductive thematic analysis. Chi-square and bootstrap Pearson’s correlation tests were performed to assess the associations between nightmare themes and self-harm history and risk of self-harm phenomena following a nightmare. ‘Powerlessness to Change Behavior’ was associated a history of self-harm engagement, whereas ‘Financial Hardship’ indicated reduced risk. Themes were not significantly associated with increased risk of self-harm phenomena following a nightmare. Content may be of use in detecting lifetime history of self-harm engagement particularly in populations where disclosure is seen as taboo. However, nightmare symptom severity remains better indicators of risk. Evidence for the utility of nightmare content in assessing immediate self-harm risk is presently lacking. Replication with increased power is recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:55:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-44515 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:55:51Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-445152020-05-04T19:09:01Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44515/ Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk Hochard, Kevin D. Ashcroft, Sam Carroll, Janine Heym, Nadja Townsend, Ellen Nightmares have been shown to be robust predictors of self-harm risk, beyond depressive symptoms and hopelessness at times. However, few studies have investigated associations between nightmare content and increased self-harm risk. The present study explored associations of thematic nightmare content with history of self-harm, and risk of self-harm phenomena the morning following a nightmare. A mixed-method diary study was employed. Prospective nightmare reports were obtained from 72 participants. A total of 47 nightmare reports met inclusion criteria and were analyzed for themes using inductive thematic analysis. Chi-square and bootstrap Pearson’s correlation tests were performed to assess the associations between nightmare themes and self-harm history and risk of self-harm phenomena following a nightmare. ‘Powerlessness to Change Behavior’ was associated a history of self-harm engagement, whereas ‘Financial Hardship’ indicated reduced risk. Themes were not significantly associated with increased risk of self-harm phenomena following a nightmare. Content may be of use in detecting lifetime history of self-harm engagement particularly in populations where disclosure is seen as taboo. However, nightmare symptom severity remains better indicators of risk. Evidence for the utility of nightmare content in assessing immediate self-harm risk is presently lacking. Replication with increased power is recommended. Wiley 2017-09-28 Article PeerReviewed Hochard, Kevin D., Ashcroft, Sam, Carroll, Janine, Heym, Nadja and Townsend, Ellen (2017) Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior . ISSN 1943-278X Nightmares Self-harm Prospective diaries Thematic analysis http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sltb.12402/full doi:10.1111/sltb.12402 doi:10.1111/sltb.12402 |
| spellingShingle | Nightmares Self-harm Prospective diaries Thematic analysis Hochard, Kevin D. Ashcroft, Sam Carroll, Janine Heym, Nadja Townsend, Ellen Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk |
| title | Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk |
| title_full | Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk |
| title_fullStr | Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk |
| title_short | Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk |
| title_sort | exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk |
| topic | Nightmares Self-harm Prospective diaries Thematic analysis |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44515/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44515/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44515/ |