Stress, anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction among postmenopausal women in Shiraz, Iran, 2015

Summary & key facts

Researchers studied 310 postmenopausal women in Shiraz, Iran, to see how feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression related to sexual problems. They used two standard questionnaires: one about sexual function and one about depression, anxiety, and stress. They found that higher levels of stress, anxiety, and especially depression were linked with worse sexual function. The study shows a clear association, but because it measured everyone at one time and used a convenience sample, it cannot prove that mental health causes sexual problems or explain other reasons for the link.

Key facts:

• The study included about 310 postmenopausal women who visited 12 health centers in Shiraz between April and September 2015.
• Researchers measured sexual function with the Female Sexual Function Index, and measured stress, anxiety, and depression with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21.
• They found an inverse relationship between mental health symptoms and sexual function. Higher stress, anxiety, and depression were linked to poorer sexual function.
• The reported correlations were roughly -0.24 for stress, -0.25 for anxiety, and -0.30 for depression, meaning depression showed the strongest link with sexual problems.
• A basic statistical model showed that depression contributed most to describing sexual dysfunction among the three mental health measures.
• Because this was a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample, the results show an association at one point in time and cannot prove cause and effect. The authors said more studies are needed to find other factors that might explain the link.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Menopause is associated with decreased sexual activity and a feeling of decreased attractiveness and sexual potency. This study tested the hypothesis that sexual health in postmenopausal women is not the same as nonmenopausal women with regard to symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 health centers in Shiraz between April and September 2015; 310 postmenopausal women included by convenient sampling. Data were collected through the Female Sexual Function Index, and depression anxiety stress scale 21 questionnaires. Analysis performed using SPSS version 22 and included descriptive statistics, Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and Pearson correlation and linear regression; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: = 0.003) and sexual dysfunction. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there was an inverse relationship among stress (-0.24), anxiety (-0.25), depression (-0.30), and sexual function. In addition, linear regression results showed that depression was the most important factor in the description of sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there is an association of the status of mental health and sexual function in post-menopausal women. However, more studies should be carried out to find the confounders.

Topics

Health and Wellbeing Research Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments Sexual function and dysfunction studies

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Psychiatry and Mental health

Tags

Anxiety Clinical psychology Confounding Demography Depression (economics) Economics Internal medicine Macroeconomics Medicine Menopause Psychiatry Sexual dysfunction Sexual function Sociology

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Depression Sexual Dysfunctions Anxiety or worry Lack of energy or motivation Sadness or low mood