Frequency of Sleep Paralysis and Its Association with Insomnia, Daytime Sleepiness and Perceived Stress Among Young Adults in Karachi
Annals of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Karachi Medical & Dental College September 1, 2025 Syed Muhammad Mubeen, Zainab Zaidi, Rimsha Humair et al.
Almost half (49.5%) of young adults in Karachi, Pakistan, experience sleep paralysis, with 46% of those affected reporting 2 to 4 episodes. Chest tightness and suffocation are common sensations. Age 21–25, being married, and having postgraduate education are linked to higher odds of sleep paralysis. Women report more stress, while married and postgraduate individuals have greater daytime sleepiness. Stress and daytime sleepiness, rather than insomnia, appear to drive sleep paralysis in this population.