Exploring the mediation of distress and depressive symptoms in the relationship between nightmares and suicidal ideation in adults
Abstract
Introduction: Nightmares constitute a frequent parasomnia in adults in the general population and have been consistently associated with various indicators of psychological distress. Evidence suggests a significant relationship between nightmares and suicidal ideation; however, the psychological mechanisms underlying this association have not yet been fully clarified. Objective: To analyse the mediating role of psychological distress and depressive symptoms in the relationship between nightmares and suicidal ideation in adults in the general population. Methodology: A total of 507 Peruvian adults (66.7% women) participated in the study and completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and psychological assessment instruments. Structural equation modelling was used to conduct the mediation analysis. Results: Nightmares showed significant indirect associations with suicidal ideation through psychological distress (? = 0.170, p = 0.007) and depressive symptoms (? = 0.234, p = 0.002). The combined indirect effect was statistically significant (? = 0.404, p < 0.001), whereas the direct effect of nightmares on suicidal ideation was not significant (? = 0.057, p = 0.515). The total effect was statistically significant (? = 0.460, p < 0.001), supporting an indirect-only mediation pattern. Conclusions: The association between nightmares and suicidal ideation in adults is statistically accounted for by indirect pathways involving psychological distress and depressive symptoms, consistent with an indirect-only mediation pattern. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as statistical associations rather than evidence of causal mechanisms.
Keywords:
sleep disorders, suicidal behaviour, mental health, adults, public healthDownloads
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jonatan Baños-Chaparro, Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez, Diego Valencia-Pecho, Esteban Sarmiento-Suarez, Dulce Bernabel-Tarazona, Gabriela Rivera-Álvarez
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