Afraid of the dark? You’re not alone, survey reveals

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(Photo by Dilara Irem Sancar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Nearly a third of American adults still fear the dark — and for many, Halloween season isn’t helping them sleep any better.

The survey, conducted by Talker Research for Avocado Green Mattress, examined how scary movies — particularly in the weeks leading up to Halloween — influence Americans’ fear of the dark.

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Nearly a third of Americans still afraid of the dark

By the numbers:

A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that 29% admit they still have a fear of the dark — with men slightly more likely than women to report it (33% vs. 26%).

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To ease their fears, a quarter of respondents (24%) sleep with a nightlight, while 10% leave the lights on all night — with men twice as likely as women to do so (15% vs. 7%). Another 11% still sleep with a stuffed animal or other comfort item.

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Horror movie season isn’t helping sleep

By the numbers:

The survey revealed that 28% of respondents "love" horror movies and try to watch as many as possible. Men were more likely to be horror fans (33% vs. 24%), while one in five women (21%) said they "hate" scary movies — compared to just 7% of men.

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Among horror watchers, women were more likely to feel frightened both during and after a film (41% vs. 28%). Men, on the other hand, were more likely to suffer nightmares afterward — with nearly one in four (24%) saying they "always" or "often" have bad dreams, compared to 13% of women.

Scary movies linked to poorer sleep

By the numbers:

The effects of horror movies go beyond nightmares. After watching a scary film, 28% of respondents said they’re more likely to wake up during the night, 22% reported lower-quality sleep, and 12% said they get fewer hours of rest.

What they're saying:

"With everything in October’s ‘spooky season’ — from horror movies to haunted houses and other Halloween celebrations — it’s no wonder that some Americans aren’t sleeping as well this month," Laura Scott, director of brand marketing at Avocado Green Mattress, said. "People may be staying up later to celebrate in the weeks leading up to Halloween, and especially if they’re watching horror movies, our data shows their sleep may suffer as a result."

"Beyond Halloween and horror movies, we also have the end of Daylight Saving Time to prepare for in the coming weeks," said Scott. "It’s no surprise to us that the majority of people surveyed would rather get rid of the time change — not only did our data also reflect this sentiment last year, but we understand how difficult it can be to adjust, even when it’s just an hour change.

"Making sure to get a good night’s sleep in the days leading up to the time change can help your body adjust — as well as switching your clocks as soon as you get up, to help your mind focus on the ‘new’ time."