University students most likely to sleepwalk

Research by online bed retailer Time4sleep.com has revealed that students are the most likely demographic in the country to find themselves meandering in to others’ bedrooms at night.

Sleepwalking as a disorder in itself is not dangerous and was found in the research to be a much more recurring issue for young people. The survey found that 65 percent of the 18-24 year-olds included in the survey had sleepwalked.

The process begins in the final stages of the sleep cycle before entering rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when dreaming commences, as well as hormones being released for growth.

A recommended sleep length of eight hours will allow for around four full sleep cycles.

Sleepwalking is likely to happen in the earlier cycles before entering into a deep sleep. This means that behaviour and activities that take place in the build up to sleep are important in impacting the likelihood of abnormal sleep behaviour.

Students often find themselves living in close proximity to others and will take on less uniform routines before bed. Over half of the students admitted that they consumed tea, coffee or alcohol before going to bed.

Other causes outlined by the academic medical centre, Cleveland Clinic, are hereditary, fatigue, and illness, or more unique to students: stress, the unfamiliar and noisy sleeping environments, as well as going to bed with a full bladder.

Just below two thirds of the 18 -24 year-olds answered saying they had sleepwalked. It is common for people to be found naked or in peculiar places as 20 percent of the 18-24 year olds experienced nude sleepwalks.

A common misconception about sleepwalking is that it is dangerous to wake people up from their sleep, when in fact research suggests it poses no medical risk.

The sleepwalker will find themselves dazed and possibly confused by their surroundings.