University students dozing in class is a common problem. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dozing in class and lifestyle habits or attitudes from the perspective of hidden insomnia among university nursing students. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 321 nursing students and 300 replies were obtained (93.5% return rate). Hidden insomnia was evaluated with the Hidden Insomnia check sheet developed by the Sleep Improvement Committee. Students who usually, sometimes, or occasionally dozed in class accounted for 26%, 28.3%, and 41.3% of the respondents, respectively. Fatigue was the most common reason for the students dozing in class. The percentage of nursing students with hidden insomnia was a high 96.7%, but a significant relationship was not found between dozing in class and hidden insomnia. On the other hand, a significant relationship was found between dozing and the duration of nocturnal sleep, frequency of lateness/absence, interest in the class, and unwillingness to attend university. The present findings showed that dozing in class was common among university nursing students. As measures to reduce dozing by nursing students, changing the awareness of the students and alleviation of fatigue are important, as well as improvement of the class content and/or teaching methods
