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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Mood Disorders | Research article

Is body image a predictor of women’s depression and anxiety in postmenopausal women?

Authors: Masoumeh Simbar, Soheila Nazarpour, Hamid Alavi Majd, Khadijeh Dodel Andarvar, Zahra Jafari Torkamani, Fatemeh Alsadat Rahnemaei

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Women in perimenopausal and postmenopausal period are at increased risk of depression and anxiety. Physiologic changes in menopause can change body’s appearance and function that may disturb body and then lead to anxiety and depression. This study aims to assess the relationship between body image with anxiety and depression among postmenopausal women.

Methods

This descriptive study was performed on 307 women attending to the health centers in Tehran- Iran. Sampling was performed by a multi-staged randomized method. Data were collected by using Beck Depression questionnaire, Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire, Fisher Body Image Questionnaire and Socio-demographic questionnaires. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 and using t-test, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests and multiple linear regression methods.

Results

The average age of the participants was 55.19 ± 4.034 years. Mean scores for body image, anxiety and depression were 163.26 ± 20.38, 12.00 ± 7.71 and 42.70 ± 8.40 respectively. Fifty five percent of women had mild to severe depression and 83.7% of them had mild to severe anxiety. Total score and all domains of body image had a negative correlation with depression and anxiety scores (P < 0.001). Multiple linear correlation showed that body image is a predictor for depression and anxiety (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Body image of women can be effective on occurrence of depression and anxiety in menopause. Therefore, women’s health policies should consider body image to control cognitive problems including depression and anxiety in menopause.
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Metadata
Title
Is body image a predictor of women’s depression and anxiety in postmenopausal women?
Authors
Masoumeh Simbar
Soheila Nazarpour
Hamid Alavi Majd
Khadijeh Dodel Andarvar
Zahra Jafari Torkamani
Fatemeh Alsadat Rahnemaei
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02617-w

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