Analysis of Sociodemographic, Psychological, and Genetic Factors Contributing to Depressive symptoms in Pre-, Peri- and Postmenopausal Women

Elżbieta Grochans, Małgorzata Szkup, Artur Kotwas, Jacek Kopeć, Beata Karakiewicz and Anna Jurczak
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Elżbieta Grochans: Department of Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, ul. Żołnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland
Małgorzata Szkup: Department of Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, ul. Żołnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland
Artur Kotwas: Department of Public Health, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, ul. Żołnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland
Jacek Kopeć: Faculty of Medicine, School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
Beata Karakiewicz: Department of Public Health, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, ul. Żołnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland
Anna Jurczak: Department of Clinical Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, ul. Żołnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Depressive symptoms that are faced by women in the pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal periods are determined by a wide array of sociodemographic, psychological, and biological variables. The aim of our study was to identify factors that contribute to depressive problems at this stage of life. The study included 815 healthy Polish women aged 45–60 years. The survey part was conducted using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Neuroticism–Extroversion–Openness Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and a self-developed questionnaire. Genetic analysis was also performed. Depressive symptoms were observed in 25.5% of participants. 70% of the women were postmenopausal. No statistically significant differences in the severity of depressive symptoms were demonstrated with regard to genetic variables ( p > 0.05). Reproductive capacity ( p < 0.001), employment ( p < 0.001), and being married ( p < 0.018) were found to reduce the incidence of depressive symptoms. The contribution of personality and anxiety as a trait to depressive symptoms varied. Conclusions: The factors predisposing pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women to depressive symptoms include lower education, lack of a life partner, unemployment, high anxiety, and neurotic personality. No evidence was found for the contribution of genetic factors to depressive symptoms in the examined women.

Keywords: depressive symptoms; premenopause; perimenopause; postmenopause; anxiety; personality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:712-:d:140402

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