The purposes of this study were to (a) explore the prevalence of sleep patterns of middle-aged women; (b) identify the relationship between subjective sleep quality and its related variables; and (c) predict the possible explanations of how the related factors affect subjective sleep quality of middle-aged women.

A total of 256 women aged 40-60 years were purposely sampled and given self-administered questionnaires in a cross-sectional, correlation coefficient design. The data was analysed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression.

The results were as follows; (a) a total of 40% of the women were poor sleepers as defined by a global PSQI score >5; (b) there were significant differences in quality of sleep related to type of family, number of present illnesses, and use of medication; (c) health promoting behaviors, family functioning, depression, and climacteric symptoms were significantly related to subjective sleep quality; and (d) 34% of variance in subjective sleep quality can be explained by climacteric symptoms, depression, type of family, and spouse.

Our findings suggested a high proportion of poor sleeping in middle-aged women. Poor sleeping appeared to have poor health promoting behaviors, lower family functioning, worse depression, and higher climacteric symptoms. Climacteric symptoms, depression, type of family, and spouse were independent risk factors for poor sleeping. Nurse professionals should screen for sleep problems in middle-aged women with a biopsychosocial and behavioral aspect.