ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS, PERSECUTORY DREAMS, AND EGO-IDEAL DREAMS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH ADVERSE EXPERIENCE IN KUALA LUMPUR: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood events (ACEs) are known to affect mental health and dream content, but few studies examine persecutory and ego-ideal dreams in non-Western young adults.

Objective: To compare ACEs, persecutory dream scores, and ego-ideal dream scores across demographic and clinical subgroups in a Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, university sample.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 230 university students in Kuala Lumpur. Measures included the ACE questionnaire, Persecutory Dream scale, Ego-Ideal Dream scale, and Life Events Checklist (LEC-5). Group comparisons used independent t-tests and Cohen’s d.

Results: No significant differences in ACEs by Muslim status, Malay status, mental illness, medication, or therapy. However, the group that was involved in drug intake had a significantly higher ACEs score. Persecutory dreams were significantly higher in medicated participants (p < .001, d = -0.586) and those who had taken drugs (p = .005, d = 0.389). Ego-ideal dreams were significantly higher in those with mental illness (p = .010, d = 0.347), medicated participants (p = .004, d = -0.474), and those in therapy (p = .046, d = -0.493). The most common adverse event was “other stressful event” (26.5%), followed by sexual assault (24.8%).

Conclusions: Medication and drug use are strongly associated with persecutory dreams, while mental illness, medication, and therapy relate to higher ego-ideal dreams.