Prevalence of Insomnia and Its Related Factors in Korean Women

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of insomnia and to compare sleep patterns, demographic characteristics, and obstacles for sleep between women with and without insomnia. Methods: This was a descriptive study. Study participants were 1,679 Korean women aged over 20 years. Information on symptoms of insomnia, sleep patterns, and related factors was assessed by questionnaire. Symptoms of insomnia included difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep and early morning awakening. Results: This study found that 32.0% of the study participants had insomnia, subjects with insomnia had bad sleep patterns compared to comparison group, lower educational level and menopause were closely related to insomnia, and noise, temperature, lighting, presence of bed partner, intake of caffeine, frequent urination, and pain or itching were associated with insomnia. Conclusion: This study suggests that insomnia is prevalent in women and closely associated with education level and menopausal status.