Subjective sleep quality after a Near-Death Experience.

Summary

Sleep quality changes after a life-threatening event regardless of whether a near-death experience (NDE) occurs. In a survey of 154 New Zealanders who had faced a close encounter with death, both those who reported an NDE and those who did not said they slept less, took longer to fall asleep, and experienced more sleep disturbances after the event. No differences in sleep duration, latency, or quality emerged between the two groups, indicating that the life-threatening event itself, rather than the NDE specifically, alters sleep.

Study at a glance

Abstract

: Findings from several studies suggest near-death experiences (NDEs) may influence sleep quality. In this study, we examined self-reported duration, latency, and quality of sleep in those who had experienced a life-threatening event and who had and had not reported an associated NDE. Participants were 154 members of the general New Zealand population who completed an online quantitative questionnaire that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Near-Death Experience Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and Life Changes Inventory-Revised. Both the NDE and non-NDE groups indicated sleep habits had changed after their close encounter with death. Participants slept less, took longer to fall asleep, and experienced more sleep disturbances. However, we found no differences between the groups, suggesting sleep alterations occurred in response to the near-death event rather than specifically to the NDE.