Sleep paralysis in Chinese: ghost oppression phenomenon in Hong Kong.
Y K Wing, S T Lee, C N Chen
Sleep October 1994 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/17.7.609 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 603 |
| Population | Undergraduate students in Hong Kong |
| Key findings | Among 603 Hong Kong undergraduate students, 37% reported at least one episode of 'ghost oppression,' a condition the authors describe as identical to sleep paralysis. Prevalence did not differ by sex, peak onset was at ages 17-19 for both sexes, 20% reported a positive family history, and over one sixth named sleep disruption and stress as precipitating events. |
Abstract
Despite reports of wide variation in the prevalence of sleep paralysis among different ethnic groups, there has never been any study in Chinese. In Hong Kong, a condition known as ghost oppression is descriptively identical to sleep paralysis. To examine this phenomenon, the response of 603 undergraduate students to a questionnaire were analyzed. Thirty-seven percent had experienced at least one attack of ghost oppression. There was no sex difference in the prevalence, and the peak age of onset was at the range of 17-19 for both sexes. A strong familial association was found and 20% of subjects reported a positive family history. Over one sixth of the subjects identified sleep disruption and stress as precipitating events.
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