Gender differences in dream socialisation in children and adolescents

Figures & data

Table 1 Gender differences in dream variables.

	Girls (mean ± SD)	Boys (mean ± SD)	Effect size	Statistical test
Dream recall (per week)^a	3.08 ± 2.59	2.31 ± 2.43	0.307	Z = 1.8*
Nightmare frequency (per month)^a	3.12 ± 5.38	1.43 ± 3.19	0.382	Z = 2.5**
Attitude towards dreams	3.10 ± 0.76	3.05 ± 0.77	0.065	t = − 0.4
Reading about dreams	0.70 ± 2.33	1.72 ± 4.87	− 0.267	Z = 0.0
Watched television programmes about dreams	1.50 ± 4.25	1.41 ± 3.98	0.022	Z = 0.1
Looked at websites about dreaming	0.45 ± 2.26	0.59 ± 2.65	− 0.057	Z = 0.4

Note: SD, standard deviation. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

a One-tailed statistical test.

Table 2 Gender differences regarding how often the child told his/her dreams to others per month.

	Girls (mean ± SD)	Boys (mean ± SD)	Effect size	Statistical test
Mother	4.98 ± 6.84	3.10 ± 5.84	0.296	Z = 2.1*
Father	2.05 ± 5.12	1.73 ± 4.59	0.066	Z = − 0.7
Siblings	3.56 ± 6.76	2.28 ± 5.41	0.209	Z = 1.2
Friends	4.77 ± 6.88	1.60 ± 4.31	0.552	Z = 4.9***
Other person	3.75 ± 6.42	2.20 ± 5.31	0.263	Z = 2.2*

Note: SD, standard deviation. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

Table 3 Gender differences regarding how often the child was asked about his/her dreams by others per month.

	Girls (mean ± SD)	Boys (mean ± SD)	Effect size	Statistical test
Mother	1.70 ± 4.29	1.49 ± 4.09	0.050	Z = 0.2
Father	0.36 ± 1.04	1.10 ± 3.83	− 0.264	Z = − 1.7*
Siblings	1.18 ± 3.34	1.03 ± 3.51	0.044	Z = 1.1
Friends	2.35 ± 5.42	0.92 ± 3.20	0.321	Z = 1.8*
Other person	1.81 ± 4.92	0.79 ± 3.27	0.244	Z = 0.5

Note: SD, standard deviation. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

Table 4 Gender differences regarding how often others told the child about their dreams per month.

	Girls (mean ± SD)	Boys (mean ± SD)	Effect size	Statistical test
Mother	2.19 ± 4.24	2.13 ± 5.00	0.013	Z = 1.0
Father	0.47 ± 1.14	0.73 ± 2.82	− 0.121	Z = − 0.3
Siblings	2.68 ± 5.61	1.58 ± 4.03	0.225	Z = 0.3
Friends	3.97 ± 6.33	1.34 ± 3.65	0.509	Z = 4.2***
Other person	3.35 ± 6.54	1.14 ± 3.32	0.426	Z = 1.2

Note: SD, standard deviation. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

Table 5 Correlation between dream socialisation variables, dream recall, and attitude towards dreams.

		Dream recall frequency	Attitude towards dreams
Mother	Telling own dreams	0.308***	0.301***
	Being asked	− 0.002	0.204**
	Being told dreams	0.135*	0.205**
Father	Telling own dreams	0.091	0.129
	Being asked	0.043	0.300***
	Being told dreams	0.065	0.158*
Siblings	Telling own dreams	0.251**	0.319***
	Being asked	0.241**	0.293***
	Being told dreams	0.276***	0.227***
Friends	Telling own dreams	0.341***	0.138*
	Being asked	0.290***	0.177*
	Being told dreams	0.317***	0.141*
Other person	Telling own dreams	0.247**	0.227**
	Being asked	0.005	0.116
	Being told dreams	0.108	0.035
Reading about dreams		0.000	0.434***
Watched television programmes about dreams		0.115	0.362***
Looked at websites about dreaming		0.079	0.405***

Note: SD, standard deviation. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.