The Iowa Sleep Experiences Survey: Hypnotizability, absorption, and dissociation

The present study (N = 163) examined the relationship between sleep experiences and a number of variables including hypnotic suggestibility, dissociation, absorption, and negative affect. The General Sleep Experiences Scale (GSE) of the Iowa Sleep Experiences Survey (ISES) correlated with measures of absorption, dissociation, negative affect, and lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming and negative affect were significantly yet weakly correlated. Regression analysis indicated that negative affect and absorption were significant predictors of GSE scores. All the variables combined, including absorption and measures of dissociation, accounted for 38% of GSE variance. Hypnotic responsiveness was not associated with lucid dreaming, dissociation, or the GSE. However, a subset of ISES items were significant predictors of suggestibility. Moreover, our results suggested that absorption may be at the heart of the link between the ISES and dissociation, and that there is a modicum of continuity of waking and sleep-related experiences.