According to research, approximately 28% of college students experience sleep paralysis (SP). This is significantly higher than the prevalence of SP in the general population. Grant Benham of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has published a new study on the topic exploring the reasons for this high incidence.
The survey involved 1,115 students at a major university in the southwestern United States, most of them women. The results showed that 35% of the participants had experienced sleep paralysis in the past. At the same time, the survey assessed their stress and sleep quality indicators.
Those who experienced sleep paralysis at least once reported higher stress levels and sleep disorders. This is not surprising, since stress is one of the causes of sleep paralysis.
Students often find it difficult to find time to relax due to their busy schedules. Sleep deprivation, insomnia, sleep disorders, as well as anxiety and depression experienced by students contribute to the high prevalence of sleep paralysis in this population. Have you experienced sleep paralysis as a student? Let us know!
The study was published in the «Journal of American College Health» in August 2020.
