Subjective sleep‐related variables in those who have and have not experienced sleep paralysis
Journal of Sleep Research October 1, 2018 Dan Denis, Christopher C. French, Melanie N. Schneider et al.
Poor sleep quality is linked to sleep paralysis, but the precise nature of the relationship is unclear. This study analyzed data from 860 individuals aged 22–32 years (66% female) from the G1219 twin/sibling study. Two components of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index—sleep latency and daytime dysfunction—predicted sleep paralysis. Additional factors associated with sleep paralysis included insomnia symptoms, sleep problems related to traumatic experiences, presleep arousal, unhelpful thoughts about sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness. No relationship was found with sleep-disordered breathing, diurnal preference, or sleeping arrangements. The results suggest that improving specific aspects of sleep quality might help reduce sleep paralysis episodes.