The role of physical activity in the link between menopausal status and mental well-being

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between menopausal status and mental well-being, and whether this relationship varies as a function of physical activity (PA). Methods: Based on a hormonal analysis and bleeding diary, women aged 47 to 55 were categorized as pre (n = 304), early peri (n = 198), late peri (n = 209), or postmenopausal (n = 387). Mental well-being was assessed using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. PA was self-reported and categorized as low, medium, and high. Associations between variables were analyzed using multivariate linear regression adjusted for age, marital and employment status, parity, self-reported mental disorder, use of psycholeptics and psychoanaleptics, and menopausal symptoms. Results: Depressive symptoms were lower amongst the pre than postmenopausal women (B = 0.07, confidence interval 0.01-0.13). Menopausal symptoms attenuated these associations. Menopausal status showed no associations with life satisfaction, or with positive or negative affectivity. Women with high PA scored higher on positive affectivity, and the pre, early peri, and postmenopausal women scored higher on life satisfaction (B = 0.79, P < 0.001; B = 0.63, P = 0.009; B = 0.42, P = 0.009, respectively) and scored lower on depressive symptoms (B = −0.13, P = 0.039; B = −0.18, P = 0.034; and B = −0.20, P < 0.001, respectively) than their low PA counterparts. The pre and postmenopausal women with medium PA scored higher on life satisfaction (B = 0.54, P = 0.001; B = 0.038, P = 0.004, respectively) than those with low PA. Conclusions: Postmenopausal women reported marginally higher depressive symptoms scores compared with premenopausal women, but menopause was not associated with positive mental well-being. However, this association varies with the level of PA. Video Summary: http://links.lww.com/MENO/A520.

Associations of physical performance and physical activity with mental well-being in middle-aged women

“…This may cause (or be a consequence of) vulnerability in mental well-being. Among middle-aged women, higher physical activity was associated with higher positive well-being and lower depressive symptomatology [10]. Thus, greater aerobic capacity may be viewed as a unique resource that helps to attenuate the effects of a decline in physical activity on mental well-being in middle-aged women.…”

“…In model 2, physical activity was added. These variables, deemed theoretically important, were justi ed based on our previous study with ERMA participants on the associations of mental well-being with physical performance measurements [8,10]. All analyses were performed with R, version 3.3.3.…”

“…However, the physical performance of more physically active middle-aged women is greater than that of less physically active peers [8]. Since physical activity in middle-aged women is bene cially associated with both positive mental well-being [10,11] and greater physical performance, it may be that mental wellbeing is also higher in better physically performing middle-aged women.…”

“…However, it has not been fully veri ed whether the level of physical performance as such plays a role in mental well-being. It would be useful from a practical standpoint to further investigate the independent role of physical performance in mental well-being for middle-aged women, as it has been suggested that physical activity plays an important role in mental well-being in this population segment [10] and that middle adulthood in women coincides with a spontaneous reduction in physical activity that may be related to menopause-associated hormonal de ciency [17] and key personal life events (e.g. birth of a grandchild [5]).…”

Physical Activity and Nutrition INfluences in Ageing: Current Findings from the PANINI Project

“…• The role of physical activity in the link between menopausal status and mental wellbeing [19] • Changes in the physical performance and a role of physical activity during menopausal transition.…”