Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing self-identity and menopausal symptoms their influence on level of depression in middle-aged woman.
Methods
Participants were 135 middle-aged women who were living in city B, were 45-60 years old, informed of study purpose, and agreed to participate. Data were collected from December, 2012 to January, 2013 using scales measuring depression, self-identity, and menopausal symptoms. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson Correlation Coefficients, and Multiple Stepwise Regression.
Results
Level of depression was low, self-identity was slightly high, and menopausal symptoms were relatively low in these middle-aged women. There were significant differences in depression by perceived health status and perceived economic status. Depression had a moderate negative correlation with self-identity (r=-.49, p<.001) and a moderate positive correlation with menopausal symptoms (r=.57, p<.001). Menopausal psychological symptoms were the factor most affecting depression and explained 37% of the variance in depression. A total of 51% of variance in depression was explained by menopausal symptoms (psychological and physical), self-identity, and perceived economic status.
Figures and Tables
Table 2
Degree of Self Identity, Menopausal Symptoms and Depression of the Middle-aged Women (N=135)
![kjwhn-19-275-i002](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/2102kjwhn/kjwhn-19-275-i002.jpg)
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