Perceived awareness of sleep paralysis phenomenon (old hag syndrome) and its most common risk factors among people from Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Article Figures & Data

Table 1

- Sociodemographic data of study participants, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Sociodemographic data	n	%
Age in years
18-35	427	81.5
36-55	83	15.8
>55	14	2.7
Gender
Male	145	27.7
Female	379	72.3
Marital status
Single	300	57.3
Married	224	42.7
Educational level
Below secondary	9	1.7
Secondary	77	14.7
University / above	438	83.6
Work
Not working	128	24.4
Student	271	51.7
Working	106	20.2
Retired	19	3.6
Had psychological disorders
None	303	59.2
Anxiety	129	25.2
Stress disorders	2	0.4
Depression	29	5.7
Others	49	9.6
Family history of sleep paralysis
Yes	369	70.4
No	155	29.6

Table 2

- Prevalence and pattern of sleep paralysis among population in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia (N=360).

Sleep paralysis prevalence	n	%
Previously had sleep paralysis
Yes	360	68.7
No	164	31.3
Consulted physician for sleep paralysis
Yes	8	2.2
No	352	97.8
How many times had sleep paralysis
1-3	181	50.3
4-6	64	17.8
>6	115	31.9
Age at first sleep paralysis
18-35	342	95.0
36-55	17	4.7
>55	1	0.3

Table 3

- Perceived awareness of general population towards sleep paralysis (SP) phenomena and its related risk factors, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Perceived awareness on SP and risk factors	n	%
General perceived awareness
Heard about sleep paralysis
Yes	511	97.5
No	13	2.5
During SP attack, persons feel pressure on their chest or body
Never	73	13.9
Sometimes	237	45.2
Frequently	37	7.1
Usually	177	33.8
What do you think about the phenomenon of SP
Medical condition	180	34.4
A visit to an evil being, witches, or elves at night	109	20.8
Nightmare	215	41.0
Others	20	3.8
How to avoid frequent SP phenomena
Visiting specialized physician with knowing risk factors	130	24.8
Proper sleep position	21	4.0
Do some relaxation techniques, such as meditation	94	17.9
Doing some religious things to get rid of bad omen and envy	231	44.1
Visit religious man to have some relaxation	14	2.7
Had trusted person in the room to save exposed one	13	2.5
Others	21	4.0
Risk factors perceived awareness
Sleeping position is related to the occurrence of SP phenomena
Yes	314	59.9
No	210	40.1
If yes, which position
On back	234	74.5
On abdomen	57	18.2
On left side	13	4.1
On right side	10	3.2
Medication is related to the occurrence of SP phenomena
Yes	58	11.1
No	466	88.9
Sleep disorders is related to SP phenomena
Yes	240	45.8
No	284	54.2
There is a link between watching horror movies and SP phenomena
Yes	149	28.4
No	375	71.6
Weak faith is related to SP phenomena
Yes	181	34.5
No	343	65.5
Late sleep time is related to SP phenomena
Yes	122	23.3
No	402	76.7
Psychological disorders are related to SP phenomena
Yes	330	63.0
No	194	37.0

Table 4

- Relation between public sleep pattern and sleep paralysis phenomena, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Sleep pattern	Previously had sleep paralysis						P-value
	Total		Yes		No
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Sleep hours daily
<5	83	15.8	66	18.3	17	10.4	0.038*
5-6	178	34.0	124	34.4	54	32.9
7-8	191	36.5	128	35.6	63	38.4
>8	72	13.7	42	11.7	30	18.3
Sleep quality
Very poor	7	1.3	6	1.7	1	0.6	0.421
Poor	72	13.7	52	14.4	20	12.2
Good	263	50.2	184	51.1	79	48.2
Very good	182	34.7	118	32.8	64	39.0
Have difficulty sleeping at night?
Never	35	6.7	22	6.1	13	7.9	0.768
Rarely	85	16.2	60	16.7	25	15.2
Sometimes	275	52.5	187	51.9	88	53.7
Always	66	12.6	49	13.6	17	10.4
Usually	63	12.0	42	11.7	21	12.8
Wake up during the night after falling asleep
Never	27	5.2	19	5.3	8	4.9	0.625
Rarely	117	22.3	85	23.6	32	19.5
Sometimes	259	49.4	171	47.5	88	53.7
Always	44	8.4	33	9.2	11	6.7
Usually	77	14.7	52	14.4	25	15.2
Wake up early in the morning and have difficulty getting back to sleep
Never	37	7.1	25	6.9	12	7.3	0.048*
Rarely	85	16.2	56	15.6	29	17.7
Sometimes	243	46.4	159	44.2	84	51.2
Always	54	10.3	44	12.2	10	6.1
Usually	105	20.0	76	21.1	29	17.7
Feel excessive sleepiness during the daytime
Never	44	8.4	24	6.7	20	12.2	0.060
Rarely	88	16.8	65	18.1	23	14.0
Sometimes	268	51.1	186	51.7	82	50.0
Always	55	10.5	35	9.7	20	12.2
Usually	69	13.2	50	13.9	19	11.6

Table 5

- Determinants of sleep paralysis phenomena among general population, Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia.

Factors	Previously had sleep paralysis				P-value
	Yes		No
	n	%	n	%
Age in years
18-35	281	65.8	146	34.2	0.010*
36-55	67	80.7	16	19.3
> 55	12	85.7	2	14.3
Gender
Male	104	71.7	41	28.3	0.356
Female	256	67.5	123	32.5	0.356
Marital status
Single	189	63.0	111	37.0	0.001*
Married	171	76.3	53	23.7	0.001*
Educational level
Below secondary	5	55.6	4	44.4	0.511
Secondary	56	72.7	21	27.3
University / above	299	68.3	139	31.7
Work
Not working	92	71.9	36	28.1	0.007*
Student	171	63.1	100	36.9
Working	79	74.5	27	25.5
Retired	18	94.7	1	5.3
Had psychological disorders
None	198	65.3	105	34.7	0.029*
Yes	153	73.2	56	26.8	0.029*
FH of sleep paralysis
Yes	286	77.5	83	22.5	0.001*
No	74	47.7	81	52.3	0.001*