Sleep paralysis is a REM-related condition where people cannot move voluntarily, often accompanied by intense fear. In a survey of 432 Italian students (average age 22.8, 333 female), 37.5% reported at least one lifetime episode. Common physical features included inability to speak, tingling, and inability to open the eyes; cognitive features included sensing a presence and fear of dying. Those who experienced sleep paralysis had higher anxiety, worse sleep quality, and were more likely to be evening chronotypes compared to those who did not. The prevalence aligns with prior studies.
During Italy's total lockdown in April 2020, about 30% of 1,622 participants reported increased dream frequency, length, and vividness, while roughly 20% reported decreases. Dream affect became significantly more negative compared to the month before lockdown. During the partial lockdown in November 2020, 214 of the same participants showed similar patterns, with negative dream affect again increasing significantly. In both lockdowns, worsened sleep quality predicted increased negative dream emotionality, which in turn predicted changes in dream frequency, length, and vividness. Between lockdowns, negative dream affect returned almost to baseline, suggesting dream emotionality is closely tied to lifestyle and waking emotional changes.