Mediating effect of menopausal symptoms between the lifestyle and depressive symptoms

This study aimed to explore relationship between lifestyle and depressive symptoms and evaluated the mediating effect of menopausal symptoms.

This was a secondary analysis of a survey in Hunan Province, China. We selected 3190 women aged 40 to 55 into final analyses. Menopausal and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Kupperman Menopausal Index and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic and lifestyle information.

The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 19.5%. After adjusting for demographic variables, passive smoking, drinking, and intensity of physical activity were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Frequency of exercise was a protective factor for depressive symptoms (AOR = 0.783, 95%CI: 0.446–0.991). Excess or restricted sleep duration was associated with higher probability of having depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.746, 95% CI: 1.324–2.304). Menopausal symptoms partially mediated the relationship between lifestyle and depressive symptoms.

Findings highlighted the importance of menopausal symptoms in the relationship between the lifestyle and depressive symptoms, and provided a possibility that active lifestyle might improve depression symptoms among women at perimenopause through changes in sex hormones.