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Could sleep paralysis be pleasant?
Monika Kliková1,2, Brian A Sharpless3,4, Jitka Bušková1,2
1National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.
Journal of Sleep Research
|September 2, 2020
Summary
Pleasant sleep paralysis, a common yet understudied experience, occurs in 23% of individuals. This phenomenon is linked to lucid dreaming and openness to experience, rather than life satisfaction or trauma.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move or speak during sleep transitions.
- While often distressing, pleasant sleep paralysis episodes are less understood.
- This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of pleasant sleep paralysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of pleasant sleep paralysis episodes.
- To identify psychological and personality factors associated with pleasant sleep paralysis.
- To explore the characteristics of pleasant sleep paralysis hallucinations.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 172 participants with recurrent sleep paralysis.
- Utilized questionnaires on sleep paralysis experiences, trauma, life satisfaction, and personality traits (Big Five).
- Analyzed correlations between pleasant sleep paralysis and psychological variables.
Main Results:
- Pleasant sleep paralysis was reported by 23% of participants.
- Episodes were emotionally complex, often including fear.
- Vestibular-motor hallucinations were more common in pleasant episodes.
- Lucid dreaming ability and openness to experience predicted pleasant sleep paralysis.
- Life satisfaction and trauma symptoms did not predict pleasant sleep paralysis.
Conclusions:
- Pleasant sleep paralysis is a relatively common experience.
- The ability to lucid dream and personality traits like openness are associated with pleasant episodes.
- Findings suggest distinct psychological correlates for pleasant versus typical sleep paralysis.
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