The menopausal symptoms and depressive symptoms were efficacy of interaction between levels and duration of exercise in perimenopausal women:a cross- sectional study

Abstract

Background Depressive disorder often adversely affects psychosocial and physical functioning. Exercise is one of the most commonly used alternatives for mood disorders and menopausal symptoms during the menopausal transition. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between levels and duration of exercise and their effects on menopausal symptoms and depressive symptoms. Methods We enrolled 512 healthy women aged 40–60 years. Exercise history, menopausal symptoms (MKS), and depressive symptoms (HAMD) were determined based on self-report. Menopausal symptoms and depressive symptoms was analyzed using a 2-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) with levels of exercise and duration of exercise as factors, respectively. Significant main effects or interactions were examined using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD) tests. Specific planned comparisons were made using Bonferroni corrections. Results There were interactions between levels and duration of exercise on the change in menopausal symptoms and depressive symptoms, respectively[ F (6,512) = 3.597, F (6,512) = 2.128, p <0.05]. Pairwise comparisons of the interaction revealed that, with moderate duration of exercise, those women who did high level of exercise had lower scores of MKS and HAMD than those who seldom exercised ( P <0.05). Short or long duration of exercise and low or high levels of exercise was not effective at reducing scores of MKS and HAMD( p >0.05). Conclusions The relationship between exercise and menopausal symptoms had a U-shaped trend. The relationship between exercise and depressive symptoms also had a U-shaped trend.