Risk factors of sleep paralysis in a population of Polish students.
Paulina Wróbel-knybel, Michał Flis, Joanna Róg, Baland Jalal, Hanna Karakuła-juchnowicz
BMC Psychiatry June 7, 2022 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04003-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,553 |
| Population | Polish university students under 35 |
| Topics | Anxiety PTSD |
| Keywords | Health status Mental disorder Parasomnia Sleep disorder Sleep paralysis Sport Worry |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | 33.14% of Polish students experienced at least one episode of sleep paralysis, with the highest odds associated with three or more health problems, mental disorders, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. |
Abstract
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a transitional dissociative state associated with the REM sleep phase that affects approximately 28.3% of the student population during their lifetime. The reasons for the high prevalence of SP in the student population are not entirely clear. Research indicates possible influencing factors such as the intensification of anxiety symptoms, a tendency to worry, the presence of PTSD symptoms, and behavioral factors such as the consumption of psychoactive substances (caffeine, alcohol, nicotine), sleep deprivations and poor sleep hygiene. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of SP and determine the risk factors for the occurrence of SP in the population of Polish students. The study used a battery online consisting of a set of questionnaires 1) a personal questionnaire, 2) the SP-EPQ, 3) the PCL -5, 4) the STAI-T, 5) the PSWQ. The questionnaire was sent via Facebook to 4500 randomly selected students from different universities in Poland. The questionnaire was completed by 2598 students. To unify the participant sample, people over 35 were excluded from the study (45 students). Ultimately, data from 2553 students were analyzed. A total of 33.14% of individuals experienced at least one episode of SP in their lives. The highest odds ratio for SP was associated with: the presence of three or more health problems (OR: 2.3; p = 0.002), the presence of any mental disorder (OR: 1.77; p = 0.002), including mood disorders (OR: 2.07; p = 0.002), suffering from at least one somatic disease (OR: 1.34; p = 0.002), a high level of anxiety as a constant personality trait (OR: 1.20; p = 0.035) and smoking (OR: 1.48; p = 0.0002), alcohol consumption (OR: 1.52; p < 0.0001), physical activity (OR: 1.31; p = 0.001). The results of our research indicate that a large proportion of students experienced isolated sleep paralysis. Mental and somatic health problems and lifestyle factors were found to predispose individuals to this disorder. Due to the numerous risk factors for SP, it is necessary to conduct additional research to confirm the impact of these factors and to investigate the mechanisms of their influence on SP.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessing the quality of publicly available videos on MDMA‐assisted psychotherapy for PTSD Videos on YouTube about MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD | 2022 | Cross-sectional study | n = 100 |
| Perceptions of psychedelic-assisted therapy among Black Americans. Black and White American adults | 2023 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 294 |
| Coping motives mediate the relationship between PTSD and MDMA use in adolescents with substance use disorders German adolescent SUD patients aged 13–18 years at an outpatient clinic | 2022 | Cross-sectional study | n = 111 |
| Expert opinions on implementation of MDMA-assisted therapy in Europe: critical appraisal towards training, clinical practice, and regulation. Researchers and clinicians involved in MDMA-AT clinical trials and contributors to the... | 2024 | Survey | n = 68 |
| Perspectives on the therapeutic potential of MDMA: A nation-wide exploratory survey among substance users Individuals self-reporting criteria consistent with alcohol or substance use disorders | 2023 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 918 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Sleeping Paralysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus 2024
- Pooled Prevalence of Sleep Paralysis in South Asian Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sleep Medicine September 1, 2026
- Association between sleep paralysis and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine September 10, 2026
- Sleep Paralysis Among Higher Education Students: A Possible Role of Antidepressant and Recreational Stimulant Use. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) October 15, 2025
- Sleep Paralysis: Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, and Treatment Strategies. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience August 25, 2025
and 5 more in the library
Cites 42
- A systematic review of variables associated with sleep paralysis Sleep Medicine Reviews June 8, 2017
- The body unbound: Vestibular–motor hallucinations and out-of-body experiences Cortex June 6, 2008
- Lucid Dreaming in Narcolepsy Sleep February 27, 2015
- Terror and bliss? Commonalities and distinctions between sleep paralysis, lucid dreaming, and their associations with waking life experiences Journal of Sleep Research July 27, 2016
- The neuropharmacology of sleep paralysis hallucinations: serotonin 2A activation and a novel therapeutic drug Psychopharmacology October 4, 2018
and 37 more in the library