Teenagers are more likely than adults to experience lucid dreams. According to a survey of 193 teenagers conducted by Australian researchers Bonamino, Watling, and Polman, two-thirds of participants had at least one lucid dream, and one-third experienced such dreams frequently. However, most of these experiences were spontaneous, as only 18% engaged in intentional lucid dreaming practices.
The authors divided the participants into two groups: athletes (those who competed at the state level or trained at least 20 hours per week) and non-athletes. The researchers aimed to determine if teenagers engage in sports in lucid dreams and whether this impacts their real-life performance. They found that training in lucid dreams doesn’t help people hone their skills, but it does boost their confidence. More than half of those who trained in the phase state reported a positive effect. However, very few engaged in this practice.
The vast majority of teenagers choose to do nothing in lucid dreams and passively observe them as they unfold. The authors question whether this is simply because teenagers don’t know what to do in lucid dreams or if it’s a conscious choice and even a source of pleasure. The next most common purposes of lucid dreaming, from most to least common, were entertainment, overcoming nightmares, problem-solving, boosting creativity, and finally, refining sports and other skills. Notably, the survey offered an option to add a personal answer, but no one suggested an original application of the phase state.
What do you do in lucid dreams?
The article was published in September 2024 in the Journal of Sports Sciences.
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