Unusual Sleep Experiences and Mental Health: Investigating Psychological Correlates and Impacts in the General Population

Green, Alisia (2025) Unusual Sleep Experiences and Mental Health: Investigating Psychological Correlates and Impacts in the General Population. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

Preview

PDF Download (6MB) | Preview

Abstract

Sleep-related hallucinations, such as hypnagogic and hypnopompic experiences, have often been overlooked despite their significant psychological effects. This thesis examines the psychological links of unusual sleep experiences, both with and without sleep paralysis, through a systematic review and an empirical study. The review synthesised findings from 18 studies investigating the connection between sleep paralysis and mental health, highlighting strong associations with trauma, anxiety, dissociation, and stress, especially among individuals in clinical settings and those exposed to trauma. However, methodological challenges, including the increasing reliance on cross-sectional designs and the lack of standardised assessments, hinder causal interpretation tools.

To build on these findings, an empirical study surveyed 84 participants from the general population to investigate how frequently unusual sleep experiences occur, the associated distress, and their links to psychological and sleep-related variables. The results revealed that 94% of participants had reported such experiences at some point in their lives, with 44% experiencing them in the last month. Importantly, over half of the recent occurrences happened without the presence of sleep paralysis. Regression analyses demonstrated that insomnia and stress were significantly associated with frequency, while anxiety and substance use were associated with the level of distress. Additionally, hallucination-proneness and dissociation appeared as contributing factors.

These findings collectively suggest a dimensional and transdiagnostic perspective on sleep-related hallucinations, indicating the influence of both trait vulnerabilities and situational stressors. The thesis highlights the need for enhanced clinical awareness of these experiences and calls for longitudinal studies to investigate causal mechanisms and intervention strategies. Incorporating sleep assessments into psychological practice may help in identifying and assisting individuals who are distressed by these phenomena.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	11 Nov 2025 15:09
Last Modified:	11 Nov 2025 15:12
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100948
DOI:

Downloads

Actions (login required)

View Item