The Mediating Effect of Attitudes Towards Senility and Death on the Relationship Between Marital Satisfaction and Depression in Presenile Postmenopausal Women

Son, Young Soo; Kim, Hyang Mi

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Background: Depression is the most common medical and psychological affliction in presenile postmenopausal women. The aim of the present study was twofold: first, to investigate whether attitudes towards senility mediate the effect of marital satisfaction on depression in presenile postmenopausal women; second, to investigate whether attitudes towards death mediate the effect of marital satisfaction on depression in presenile postmenopausal women.
METHODS
One hundred thirty physically active, married female participants in their 50s, who were receiving postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy at Senile Women's Clinic, Jeju National University Hospital, were recruited. To assess the women's mental health and outlooks on life, the Korean version of Beck's Depression Inventory, the Korean version of the attitudes towards ageing questionnaire, the Korean version of the attitudes towards death questionnaire, and the Korean marital satisfaction scale were used.
RESULTS
The effect of marital satisfaction on depression in presenile postmenopausal women was partially mediated by attitudes towards senility. Conversely, the effect of marital satisfaction on depression in presenile postmenopausal women was not mediated by attitudes towards death.
CONCLUSION
In presenile postmenopausal women, apprehensions concerning senility are more influential than those concerning death in the onset of depression. Therefore, medical management and/or psychological counseling for presenile postmenopausal women with depression, should take into account their attitudes towards senility.