Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK.
School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK.
J Sleep Res. 2023 Aug;32(4):e13810. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13810. Epub 2023 Jan 11.
Previous studies have found significant associations between paranormal beliefs and sleep variables. However, these have been conducted on a small scale and are limited in the number of sleep variables investigated. This study aims to fill a gap in the literature by investigating paranormal beliefs in relation to a wide range of sleep variables in a large sample. Participants (N = 8853) completed a survey initiated by the BBC Focus Magazine. They reported on their demographics, sleep disturbances and paranormal beliefs. Poorer subjective sleep quality (lower sleep efficiency, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration and increased insomnia symptoms) was associated with greater endorsement of belief in: (1) the soul living on after death; (2) the existence of ghosts; (3) demons; (4) an ability for some people to communicate with the dead; (5) near-death experiences are evidence for life after death; and (6) aliens have visited earth. In addition, episodes of exploding head syndrome and isolated sleep paralysis were associated with the belief that aliens have visited earth. Isolated sleep paralysis was also associated with the belief that near-death experiences are evidence for life after death. Findings obtained here indicate that there are associations between beliefs in the paranormal and various sleep variables. This information could potentially better equip us to support sleep via psychoeducation. Mechanisms underlying these associations are likely complex, and need to be further explored to fully understand why people sometimes report "things that go bump in the night".
先前的研究发现超自然信仰与睡眠变量之间存在显著关联。然而，这些研究规模较小，调查的睡眠变量数量有限。本研究旨在通过在大样本中调查与广泛的睡眠变量相关的超自然信仰来填补文献中的空白。参与者（N=8853）完成了由英国广播公司焦点杂志发起的一项调查。他们报告了自己的人口统计学信息、睡眠障碍和超自然信仰。较差的主观睡眠质量（较低的睡眠效率、较长的睡眠潜伏期、较短的睡眠时间和增加的失眠症状）与以下信仰的更大认可相关：（1）灵魂在死后继续存在；（2）幽灵的存在；（3）恶魔；（4）一些人能够与死者交流的能力；（5）濒死体验是死后生命的证据；以及（6）外星人曾访问过地球。此外，头部爆炸综合征和孤立性睡眠瘫痪发作与外星人曾访问地球的信仰有关。孤立性睡眠瘫痪也与濒死体验是死后生命的证据的信仰有关。这里获得的发现表明，超自然信仰与各种睡眠变量之间存在关联。这些信息可能使我们能够更好地通过心理教育来支持睡眠。这些关联的潜在机制很复杂，需要进一步探讨，以充分理解为什么人们有时会报告“夜间有东西在砰砰作响”。
