NREM parasomnia-related behaviors and adverse childhood experiences

To assess the prevalence, types, sociodemographic factors, and reported dangerous activities of sleep-related behaviors likely representing NREM parasomnia episodes, as well as their association with adverse childhood experiences in Hungary.

Cross-sectional survey of 1000 adults (aged ≥18 years) representing the Hungarian population, using a non-probability quota sampling with a random walk method and a structured face-to-face interview. A multi-criterion weighting procedure was applied to correct bias along the main sociodemographic variables to the data available. Binary logistic regression estimated the odds of NREM parasomnia-related behaviors associated with sociodemographic factors and adverse childhood experiences.

The prevalence of NREM parasomnia-related behaviors was 2.7 %, and self-reported sleep-eating was 0.1 % of the population (4.6 % of parasomnia-like activities). For middle-aged adults, the odds of sleep ambulation were significantly lower than for younger adults (OR 0.3; P = 0.03). A participant's family occurrence of reported parasomnia-like activity increased their odds of having it by more than 7 times (OR 7.1; P < 0.001). Nine participants out of those 27 people reporting NREM parasomnia-related behavior episodes, reported childhood adverse experiences, increasing the odds of parasomnia-related behavior by more than six times (OR 6.2; P < 0.001) compared to those not reporting it.

This is the first population survey in Hungary on adult sleep-related behaviors likely representing NREM parasomnia episodes and the potential association with childhood traumatic events preceding them. The related dangerous behaviors call for safety measures and prevention. The significant association between adverse childhood events and NREM parasomnia-related behaviors needs further analysis.