Dreams, problem-solving, and resilience in Chinese young adults

Abstract

Anecdotal reports about dreaming, problem-solving, and resilience have been reported throughout history, and relationships between these constructs have been confirmed in recent empirical research. However, studies in China are few. To offer insights into this topic, an online survey measuring dream variables (attitude towards dreams, dream intensity, dream quantity, dream vividness, and altered dream episodes) and problem-solving and resilience was answered by 233 Chinese young people (M = 21.90, SD = 3.78) in Hong Kong. The survey included Attitude Toward Dreams Scale, Dream Intensity Scale-Revised, Resilience Scale-14, and problem-solving items. Data analyses included Pearson correlations to examine associations between variables, and multiple regression and mediation analyses to contribute a better understanding of their relationships. Significant and positive effects of dream vividness or altered dream episodes on problem-solving suggest that sensory dream experiences influence conscious problem-solving. In contrast, significant and negative effects of dream intensity and dream quantity on resilience imply that the intensity and quantity of dreams lead to diminished resilience, and also that dream variables must act indirectly upon problem-solving first in order for positive changes in resilience to occur. Although attitude towards dreams does not directly affect problem-solving or resilience, it has an indirect impact via dream intensity and its three dimensions, which, in turn, indirectly influence either problem-solving or resilience. These results advance the literature by quantifying the process or sequence of indirect effects of dream variables on problem-solving and resilience.