RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Perceived awareness of sleep paralysis phenomenon (old hag syndrome) and its most common risk factors among people from Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 1302
OP 1312
DO 10.15537/smj.2021.42.12.20210628
VO 42
IS 12
A1 Fatimah J. Aledili
A1 Fatimah A. Albahrani
A1 Laila Y. Alalawi
A1 Fatema Rafea Aleliwi
A1 Fatimah A. Bomouzah
A1 Ghadeer Z. Alghasham
A1 Khalid M. Alhajri
A1 Majed Alabdali
YR 2021
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/42/12/1302.abstract
AB Objectives: To assess prevalence and perception of sleep paralysis and its relationship with socioeconomic determinants, and risk factors in a cross-sectional sample of Saudi general population from Al-Ahsa city.Methods: A cross-sectional sampling survey was conducted during 2020 to 2021. The targets were aged above 18 and belonged to Al-Ahsa. Patients were sent self-reported anonymous questionnaires to complete.Results: A total of 524 participants, whose ages ranged from 18 to 60 years, were analyzed. Among 85.7% of participants aged 55 years and over, compared to 65.8% of those who were aged under 35, 379 (72.3%) respondents were females. Moreover, 438 (83.6%) participants were university graduates, 271 (51.7%) were students and 40.8% had psychological disorders including anxiety (25.2%) and depression (5.7%). Family history of sleep paralysis was reported by 369 (70.4%) participants. A total of 97.5% study participants were aware of sleep paralysis.Conclusion: Sleep paralysis is a common occurrence in people residing in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A considerable number of the society held wrong beliefs regarding sleep paralysis. Therefore, raising public of identity of sleep paralysis is crucial. We recommend applying the study in other cities within Saudi Arabia to identify common risk factors and perceptions among the society.