Phenomenology and Interpretations of Sleep Paralysis with an Aotearoa New Zealand Sample: Cultural Nuances and Clinical Implications
Kōtuitui New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online March 29, 2026 Francesca Sullivan, Nicole Lindsay
In Aotearoa New Zealand, 12 people who experience isolated sleep paralysis (ISP) described frightening multisensory perceptions during episodes of temporary immobility between wakefulness and sleep. Participants interpreted ISP through either spiritual or biomedical lenses, and these frameworks shaped how they understood, explained, and coped with the experience. Many were reluctant to disclose ISP for fear of being labeled mentally ill, while others felt judged for their spiritual beliefs. The phenomenological features of ISP in this sample matched global findings. A larger quantitative study is needed to test generalizability to the wider New Zealand population.