title: A population-based survey of sleep disturbances in middle-aged women--associations with health, health related quality of life and health behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of sleep disturbances and the contributing factors in middle-aged women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional design of the long-term, prospective follow-up study project of 1278 families from a random population sample, the mothers of 15 year-olds were asked to fill in a questionnaire about sleep, health, health related quality of life, and health behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quality of sleep was reported by 32% of women as good, 43% quite good, 12% average, 10% quite poor and 3% as poor. The most frequent sleep disturbance was awakenings in the night, which 60% of the women experienced at least once a week. Difficulty falling asleep and waking too early in the morning were reported as a weekly occurrence by 16% and 20%, respectively. Morning sleepiness was experienced by 42% and daytime sleepiness by 32%. Chronic diseases and use of medications was associated with various sleep disturbances. Both somatic and mental symptoms increased the risk for sleep disturbances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost one-quarter of middle-aged women is dissatisfied with their quality of sleep. Women who have chronic disease or use of medications for basic diseases often suffer from sleep disturbance, which is also associated with the health related quality of life. Further analysis of the risk factors is needed to improve the sleep health of middle-aged women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Sleep Research Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: paivi.polo@tyks.fi.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polo-Kantola
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Outpatient Clinic for Children and Adolescents, Turku City Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aromaa
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku Clinical Research Centre, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rautava
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Neuropsychiatric outpatient ward, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Markkula
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Tero
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vahlberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sillanpää
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014851:Wakefulness
keywords: Insomnia; Mental health; Sleep; Sleep disturbance; Somatic health; Woman