Research suggests that sleep position can influence dream quality and nightmare frequency.
A well-known study from Yuzuncu Yil University School of Medicine found that around 40% of left-side sleepers reported frequent nightmares, compared to under 15% of right-side sleepers.
The researchers proposed that physiological factors such as heart position and autonomic nervous system activity may subtly affect emotional processing during REM sleep.
In contrast, right-side sleeping was associated with calmer, more pleasant dreams, while stomach sleeping has been linked to sensations of pressure or smothering that can trigger distressing dream content.
Based on these findings, switching from left-side to right-side sleeping may help reduce nightmares for some people.
