Rauf, Betul; Perach, Rotem; Madrid-Valero, Juan Jose; Denis, Dan; Sharpless, Brian; Poerio, Giulia Lara; French, Christopher C. and Gregory, Alice M.. 2023. The associations between paranormal beliefs and sleep variables. Journal of Sleep Research, 32(4), e13810. ISSN 0962-1105 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

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 British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Science 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 and (3) demons, (4) an ability for some people to communicate with the dead, that (5) near-death experiences are evidence for life after death, and that (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’.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13810
Additional Information:	Funding information: The British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Science Focus Magazine provided support in kind (administrative support, financing the prize draw, and promoting the study). The write-up of this report was funded by a grant from WA Sceptics to AMG to support the work of BR. Data availability statement: The data underlying this article are not currently publicly available due to data protection policies. Reasonable requests for access to data should be made to the corresponding author.
Keywords:	anomalistic, anomalous experiences, exploding head syndrome, paranormal, parasomnia, sleep paralysis
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Psychology
Dates:	Date Event 7 December 2022 Accepted 11 January 2023 Published Online July 2023 Published
Item ID:	32749
Date Deposited:	07 Dec 2022 13:44
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2023 13:56
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/32749

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