Parasomnias in Post-Secondary Students: Prevalence, Distress, and Coping Strategies

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Parasomnias are sleep disorders involving abnormal motor, verbal, or behavioral events during sleep or sleep-wake transitions.
• These disorders significantly disrupt sleep and negatively impact individuals.
• Understanding parasomnia prevalence and coping mechanisms in young adults is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the types and prevalence of parasomnias in post-secondary students.
• To explore the subjective distress caused by different parasomnias.
• To identify coping strategies employed by students experiencing distressing parasomnias.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 77 post-secondary students completed the Munich Parasomnia Screening (MUPS) frequency scale.
• Participants rated the distress level of experienced parasomnias on a 10-point scale.
• Open-ended responses were coded to identify coping strategies.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of parasomnias was observed, with 92% of students reporting at least one.
• The majority of students experienced multiple parasomnias, indicating a high likelihood of co-occurrence.
• Most students experiencing distressing parasomnias did not actively cope, though grounding and physical manipulation were common strategies when employed.

Conclusions:

• There is a strikingly high prevalence of parasomnias among young adults in the post-secondary student population.
• Students often lack awareness of effective coping mechanisms for distressing parasomnias.
• The study highlights the need for education and dissemination of accepted strategies for managing parasomnias in this demographic.