J Korean Matern Child Health .  2025 Jul;29(3):137-146. 10.21896/jkmch.2025.29.3.137.

The Relationship Among Stress, Sense of Coherence and Sleep Quality in Middle-aged Women

• Kim SH
• Choi SY

• KMID: 2570301
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jkmch.2025.29.3.137

Abstract

Purpose
This study aims to assess the levels of sleep quality, stress, and sense of coherence among middle-aged women and to examine the relationship among stress, sense of coherence and sleep quality.
Methods
A total of 188 middle-aged women aged 40–64 residing in Jinju city, Gyeongsangnam-do province, were enrolled. Data on general characteristics, sleep quality, stress, and sense of coherence were collected using a structured questionnaire.
Results
The participants’ average sleep quality score was 5.21±2.84 out of a possible 21 points. The mean sleep quality score in the good sleep quality group was 2.90±0.95, while the poor sleep quality group had a mean score of 7.51±2.14. Stress levels were significantly higher in the poor sleep quality group compared to the good sleep quality group (t=-8.69, p<0.001), whereas the sense of coherence was significantly higher in the good sleep quality group than in the poor sleep quality group (t=5.47, p<0.001). In the good sleep quality group, there were no significant correlations between sleep quality and either sense of coherence or stress. However, there was a negative correlation between stress and sense of coherence (r=-0.31, p=0.002). In the poor sleep quality group, stress showed a strong negative correlation with sense of coherence (r=-0.80, p<0.001), and a positive correlation with sleep quality (r=0.62, p<0.001). Additionally, sense of coherence was negatively correlated with sleep quality (r=-0.49, p<0.001).
Conclusion
This study identified significant associations between sleep quality, stress, and sense of coherence among middle-aged women with poor sleep quality. These findings underscore the importance of developing targeted interventions to improve sleep quality in this population, incorporating strategies that address their stress levels and promote psychosocial sense of coherence.

Keyword

Middle aged, Women, Sleep quality, Stress, Sense of coherence