Objective To explore the time-varying characteristics and correlation degree of autonomous rehabilitation behavior and related symptoms of middle-aged stroke patients,and to provide a basis for clinical transitional nursing and precise rehabilitation. Methods Ecological momentary assessment was used to select 57 middle-aged stroke patients who underwent rehabilitation treatment in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of a tertiary comprehensive hospital in Wuhan from March 15 to August 30,2024,using convenience sampling method. Their autonomous rehabilitation behavior and related symptoms(fatigue,pain,emotion,sensation) were continuously monitored for 2 weeks. A hierarchical linear model was used to analyze the correlation between behavior and symptoms. Results The autonomous rehabilitation behavior of middle-aged stroke patients showed a fluctuating increasing trend, and the symptom score showed a slow decreasing trend. The hierarchical linear model showed that compared with female patients,male patients have longer duration of autonomous rehabilitation behavior(P<0.05). The number and duration of autonomous rehabilitation behaviors in patients without fatigue were higher(P<0.05). The number of autonomous rehabilitation behaviors in patients without pain was higher than that in patients with pain(P<0.05). The number of autonomous rehabilitation behavior items among patients who perceived more pleasure in rehabilitation was higher than that among patients with greater difficulty in rehabilitation challenges(P<0.05). Patients with high rehabilitation confidence have higher numbers and duration of autonomous rehabilitation behaviors compared to patients with low rehabilitation confidence(P<0.05). Conclusion There are significant individual differences and dynamic changes in the autonomous rehabilitation behavior and related symptoms of middle-aged stroke patients. Nursing staff should accurately implement personalized rehabilitation services during the transition period,enhance patients’ autonomy and self-management ability in home-based rehabilitation,in order to improve the overall rehabilitation effect.