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Vasomotor and depressive symptoms are primary correlates of poor sleep quality in postmenopausal women, regardless of breast cancer history

In a cross-sectional study of 102 postmenopausal women (64 with breast cancer, 38 without), global PSQI scores were similar between groups, and 34.3% were classified as poor sleepers. Vasomotor symptoms (β=0.22, P=.004) and depressive symptoms (β=0.45, P<.001) were significant correlates of sleep quality, together with employment and smoking, explaining 54% of variance. Breast cancer survivorship was not associated with sleep quality.

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Menopausal Symptoms, Depression, and Sleep Quality Among Postmenopausal Women With and Without Breast Cancer.

observational

Kim I, Park NJ · Cancer nursing (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A (cross-sectional)
Intervention: None (observational study)
Outcome: Sleep quality measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Effect Size: β=0.22 for vasomotor symptoms, β=0.45 for depressive symptoms
Population: Postmenopausal women with and without breast cancer (n=102)

Result:

PubMed: 42608713DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001630

Mechanism Graph

Vasomotor symptoms (e.g., hot flashes) disrupt sleep through nighttime awakenings and discomfort
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Depressive symptoms may alter sleep architecture and circadian regulation
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These factors interact with employment and smoking to further impair sleep
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Result: Poor sleep quality (PSQI >5) in 34.3% of women

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Small sample size (n=102) and unequal group sizes (64 vs 38) may limit generalizability
  • ⚠Self-reported measures (PSQI, CES-D) may introduce recall bias

Frequently Asked Questions

Does breast cancer history affect sleep quality in postmenopausal women?▼

No, breast cancer survivorship was not associated with sleep quality in this study; sleep quality was similar between breast cancer survivors and healthy comparisons.

What factors are most strongly linked to poor sleep in postmenopausal women?▼

Depressive symptoms (β=0.45) and vasomotor symptoms (β=0.22) were the strongest correlates, along with employment and smoking, explaining 54% of the variance in PSQI scores.

What percentage of postmenopausal women in this study were poor sleepers?▼

34.3% of the women were classified as poor sleepers (PSQI >5).

What sleep components were most affected in this population?▼

Most women had adequate sleep latency (66.7%), efficiency (74.5%), and subjective quality (90.2%), but only 25.5% achieved more than 7 hours of sleep per night.

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References

  1. 1.Kim I, Park NJ. "Menopausal Symptoms, Depression, and Sleep Quality Among Postmenopausal Women With and Without Breast Cancer.." Cancer nursing, 2026. PMID: 42608713 DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001630
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.