A Study on Climacteric Symptoms, Depression and Quality of Life in Middle-Aged Women

Park, Hyoung Sook; Kim, Sang Keum; Cho, Gyoo Yeong

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between self reported climacteric symptoms, and depression, and the quality of life in middle aged women. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 149 women from 40 to 64 years of age. Climacteric symptoms were measured with Neugarton's tool(1965) and depression with Zung's tool. Quality of life was related to self reported climacteric symptoms were education level(F=3.011, p=.035), income measured by Rho's tool(1988). RESULT: The general characteristic variables significantly level(F=2.670, p=.057), income satisfaction (F=3.413, p=.011), perceived subjective health condition(F=28.623, p=.000). The general characteristic variables significantly related to depression were age(t=-2.476, p=.014), education level(F=4.492, p.013), income satisfaction (F=2.845, p.026), perceived subjective health condition(F=8.468, p=.000). The general characteristics variables significantly related to quality of life were income level(F=5.010, p=.000), income satisfaction(F=6.314, p=.000), perceived subjective health condition(F=3.516, p<=.032), menstruation cycles(t=-2.66, p=.023). The relationship between self reported climacteric symptoms and depression had a statistically a positive correlation(r=.357, p=.000). The relationship between depression and quality of life had a statistically with a negative correlation(r=-.397, p=.000).
CONCLUSION
These results may contribute to a better understanding of depression and quality of life in middle aged women. Therefore, health programs for prompting climacteric women's health should be a planned based on results of the study.