The occurrence and predictive factors of sleep paralysis in university students
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment November 14, 2016 M. Líšková, Denisa Janečková, Lucie Klůzová Kráčmarová et al.
Sleep paralysis (SP) in Czech university students is most strongly predicted by nightmares, while the intensity of fear during episodes is most strongly predicted by dream occurrences. In a sample of 606 students who had experienced at least one SP episode, 62% reported intense fear and 16% reported pleasant feelings. Women experienced SP more often than men. Higher scores on the Boundary Questionnaire (BQ-18) were associated with more frequent pleasant episodes, and higher scores on the Modified Tellegen Absorption Scale (MODTAS) were associated with hallucinations during SP. The authors suggest that personality variables, alongside rapid eye movement sleep dysregulation, may contribute to the characteristics of SP.