Depression and anxiety among middle-aged women: A community-based study

Abstract

Background:Anxiety and depressive disorders constitute a substantial proportion of the global burden of disease and are projected to form the second most common cause of disability by 2020.Objective:To assess the level of depression and anxiety among middle age women and the possible factors behind it.Materials and Methods:A total of 180 women aged 40–60 years were selected by proportionate sampling technique. Age, education, marital status, socioeconomic status, age at marriage, age at menopause, weight and height were noted. Zung-self-rating scales were used for calculating levels of depression and anxiety in these women. The data were analyzed by using statistical software SPSS.Results:The level of syndromal depression and anxiety was found to be 86.7% and 88.9%, respectively. Most of the subjects had the moderate type of depression (49.5%) followed by mild (29.4%) and severe depression (7.8%). While in case of anxiety, most of the subjects (69.4%) had a mild form of anxiety and 17.8% had moderate anxiety level. A significant difference was observed in the level of depression with respect to marital status (P = 0.009) and in the level of anxiety with respect to age (P = 0.021) in the study subjects. On applying logistic regression, none of the factors studied were found to be significant variables for anxiety or depression in the study population.Conclusion:Depression and anxiety are prevalent among the middle-aged women in rural Punjab. Provision of mental health services in this group is essential.

Depression

“…A recent Indian study reported severe depression to be present among 8.5 % of menopausal women. 17 Another study of menopausal women also reported the presence of severe depressive mood among 6.9 % of the population. 18 Very severe depressed mood was found among 7% of our study population.…”

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

“…We found a positive correlation of menopausal symptoms with depressive symptoms, which provided effective evidence suggesting that women who experienced more severe menopausal symptoms are more likely to exhibit increased levels of depressive symptoms as they move through the menopausal transition [17,18,20] . Reason for depressive symptoms during menopausal period may be due to alteration in the levels of reproductive hormones which may directly affect central neurotransmitter activity and contribute to a dysregulation of the hypothalamicpituitaryadrenal axis, leading to onset of depressive symptoms in vulnerable women [21,22,23] . Another reason is that menopausal period could improve the levels of pro-in ammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, which are associated with the expression of behavioral characteristic of decreased psychological well-being [24,25] .…”

Women’s life orientation and pro-health behavioural patterns in the perimenopausal phase

“…Bansal et al, evaluating women aged 40-60 years by means of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, stated that in 87% of respondents depression, and in 89% anxiety and fear, can be observed, and most frequently, i.e. in 49.5%, it was mild depression [26]. Such an accumulation of roles combined with menopause occurring at the same time, can contribute to difficulties in mental functions, and, as Barnaś et al prove, the intensity of symptoms is connected with menses regularity.…”