Depression, anxiety and stress [DASS21] symptoms in menopausal Arab women: Shedding more light on a complex relationship

Abstract

Aim

The objectıve was to determine correlation between depression, anxiety and stress in menopausal and post-menopausal women and shedding more light on a complex relationship.

Methods

A cross-sectional based on Arabian women at the Primary Health Care (PHC) Centers in Qatar during July 2012 and May 2014 and 1101 women agreed to participate and responded to the study. Depression, anxiety and stress were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Data on body mass index (BMI), clinical and other parameters were used.

Results

The mean age and SD of the menopausal age was 49.55 ± 3.12, and postmenopausal age was 58.08 ± 3.26 (P < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences between menopausal stages with regards to age, ethnicity, educational status, occupation status, and place of living. Also, there were statistically significant differences between menopausal stages with regards to BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, vitamin D deficiency, and diseases. Depression and anxiety were more common among postmenopause women. The multivariate regression analyses revealed that age in years, diastolic BP, consanguinity, regular exercise were predictor for depression. Meanwhile, diastolic BP, occupation and physical activity considered the main risk factors for anxiety. Furthermore, age in years, occupation and sheesha smoking habits were considered as the main risk factors associated with stress.

Conclusion

A large number of factors were associated with experiencing menopausal and psychosocial problems and which had negative effects on the quality of life among Arabian women. Depression, anxiety and stress should be considered as an important risk factors for osteoporosis.

Disclosure of interest

The author ha not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.