Effects Of Sleep Paralysis On Human Psychology

Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move while waking or falling asleep, often accompanied by terrifying hallucinations. Both stressful environmental factors and a dominant genetic predisposition contribute to the condition. A survey of nearly 300 people from various age groups in Karachi used a multifactor questionnaire and regression analysis to examine how sleep paralysis affects human psychology. The results showed that sleep paralysis impacts a person's psychology and personal life.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Sleep paralysis is a state of consciousness experienced while waking from sleep or falling asleep. It is characterized by an experience of being unable to move for several seconds or minutes. Sleep paralysis entails a period of paralysis upon waking or falling asleep and is often accompanied by terrifying hallucinations. Many stressful environmental factors which cause emotional stress also induce sleep paralysis. In addition to stressful environmental factors being associated with the condition, there appears to be a dominant genetic factor associated with the predisposition for developing sleep paralysis. The implications of these findings for stress, anxiety, and sleep are discussed. Almost three hundred people from various age groups of Karachi city were targeted as the respondents. A multifactor questionnaire was constructed to measure the effects of sleep paralysis – independent variable, and the human psychology – dependent variable. Regression analysis was performed and proposed two models using SPSS. The results of statistical tests were concluded in a way that how sleep paralysis effects a person’s life. The final results showed the effects of sleep paralysis on one’s psychology and personal life.