The effectiveness of mindfulness on quality of life of women with premature menopause: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Background: Premature menopause may impair the quality of life and expose women to disorders such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and depression. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness on the quality of life of women with premature menopause. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study in which 62 women were recruited and randomly allocated in two groups of mindfulness and control. The mindfulness group received eight sessions of training. A demographic questionnaire, Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) and a checklist (for assessing frequency and intensity of hot flashes) were used to collect data. The quality of life, frequency, and intensity of hot flashes measured at baseline, after eight weeks and in three months follow-up. The Independent t-test, the chi-square test, and the repeated measure test were used for analyzing data. Results: The score of quality of life was significantly improved after the intervention and in three months follow-up in the mindfulness group compared to the control group (p<0.001). The scores of vasomotor, psychological, physical, and sexual domains also improved significantly in the mindfulness group compared to the control group. The severity and the frequency of hot flashes were significantly reduced in the mindfulness group in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that eight weeks of mindfulness training could significantly improve the quality of life and also could reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes in women with premature menopause. Using mindfulness for women with premature menopause is recommended.