The occurrence and predictive factors of sleep paralysis in university students
M. Líšková, Denisa Janečková, Lucie Klůzová Kráčmarová, K. Mladá, J. Bušková
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment November 14, 2016 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s115629 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSleep 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.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 606 |
| Population | Czech university students who had experienced at least one episode of sleep paralysis |
| Keywords | Medicine Psychology |
| Key finding | Nightmares were the strongest predictive factor for the frequency of sleep paralysis episodes, and dream occurrences were the strongest predictive factor for the intensity of fear. |
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence and predictive factors of sleep paralysis (SP) in Czech university students. Our sample included 606 students who had experienced at least one episode of SP. The participants completed an online battery of questionnaires involving questionnaires focused on describing their sleep habits and SP episodes, the 18-item Boundary Questionnaire (BQ-18), the Modified Tellegen Absorption Scale (MODTAS), the Dissociative Experience Scale Taxon, the Beck Depression Inventory II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The strongest predictive factor for the frequency of SP episodes was nightmares. The strongest predictive factor for the intensity of fear was dream occurrences. In our study sample, SP was more common in women than in men. Those who scored higher in BQ-18 experienced more often pleasant episodes of SP and those who scored higher in MODTAS were more likely to experience SP accompanied with hallucinations. While 62% of respondents answered that their SP was accompanied by intense fear, 16% reported that they experienced pleasant feelings during SP episodes. We suggest that not only the known rapid eye movement sleep dysregulation but also some personality variables may contribute to the characteristics of SP.