Mental health and quality of life in postmenopausal women as a function of retrospective menopause symptom severity

Abstract

Objectives: Perimenopause is commonly viewed as a window of vulnerability for developing psychiatric and eating disorders, especially for women who experience severe symptoms. However, menopausal symptoms may have a lasting effect on older women's mental health and quality of life (QOL) into postmenopause. The current study examined older (60þ) postmenopausal women's mental health and QOL as a function of retrospective menopausal symptom severity.Methods: Participants were recruited via public online postings and included 227 postmenopausal women, ages 60 to 94 years old (M ¼ 68.84, SD ¼ 6.53). Participants completed an online questionnaire to assess past menopausal symptoms as well as current depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, binge eating, QOL, and demographics. The relation between the retrospective severity of menopausal symptoms and mental health/QOL was evaluated using linear regressions, while controlling for demographic covariates.Results: Retrospective menopause symptom severity was significantly associated with depression, sleep difficulties, binge eating severity, and most QOL measures. Regarding covariates, having a psychiatric history was significantly associated with all outcome variables, except for anxiety. Time since menopause and body mass index were significantly associated with binge eating severity. Regarding specific symptom subgroups, psychological and somato-vegetative symptoms were most associated with mental health and QOL. Conclusion:The menopausal transition is a significant change in a woman's life and the challenges of menopausal symptoms can have lasting impacts on women's health. It is imperative that future research seeks to further understand the lasting impacts of this transition on the lives of older women to ensure proper interventions are implemented for successful aging.

“I was just a shell”: Mental health concerns for women in perimenopause and menopause

“…Emotional lability which ranged from women feeling angry, agitated and irritable to feeling upset, tearful and feeling their self-esteem was low was identified across studies (Abd Elazim et al, 2014;Abubakari et al, 2018;Alan et al, 2016;Duffy et al, 2013;Herbert et al, 2020;Jurgenson et al, 2014;Khokhar, 2013;Memon et al, 2014;Mustafa & Sabir, 2012;Sayakhot et al, 2012;Tasnim et al, 2016;Ussher et al, 2019). Hooper et al (2022) andTruelandTrueland (2022) highlight that the psychological symptoms women report during perimenopause and menopause can have deleterious impacts on women's lives. For women going through the fluctuating hormonal transition associated with perimenopause and menopause, diagnostic overshadowing as described by Molloy et al (2021) could lead to health professionals misattributing symptoms to a mental health disorder, thus leading to inappropriate treatment for women.…”

“…Hooper et al. (2022) and TruelandTrueland (2022) highlight that the psychological symptoms women report during perimenopause and menopause can have deleterious impacts on women's lives. For women going through the fluctuating hormonal transition associated with perimenopause and menopause, diagnostic overshadowing as described by Molloy et al.…”

Sociodemographic and Clinical Aspects of Climacteric Syndrome of Menopause in the City of Kati in Mali Involving 113 Women

“…Thus, the Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology onset of menopause paves the way for prevention strategies aimed at improving quality of life and increasing longevity. Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, cognitive decline, dementia and depression as well as cancer are the main diseases of concern [22].…”

The Clinical Phenotype of Binge Eating Disorder among Postmenopausal Women: A Pilot Study

“…Additionally, among older women (N = 20; aged 65-77) with current BED, depression, anxiety, and elevated BMI were highly comorbid; 25% self-reported hypertension or hypercholesterolemia, while no participants self-disclosed a diabetes diagnosis [23]. In a general sample of postmenopausal women (N = 227; aged = 60-94), retrospective menopausal symptom severity was significantly associated with BE severity [24]. The medical history data in these samples are limited by the exclusive use of self-reported past medical conditions (versus the use of electronic medical record data to verify medical history).Thus, much remains to be learned about the clinical phenotype and disease burden of BE in later life.…”