Elsevier

Maturitas

Volume 14, Issue 2, January 1992, Pages 117-126
Maturitas

The South-East England longitudinal study of the climacteric and postmenopause

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-5122(92)90004-NGet rights and content

Abstract

Fifty-six premenopausal women were drawn from a cross-sectional survey of 850 women living in South-East England. They were recontacted 3 years later when 36 met the criterion of being naturally peri- or postmenopausal. Somatic, vasomotor and emotional symptoms, as well as general health, use of medical services and beliefs about the menopause, were assessed on both occasions using the Women's Health Questionnaire (a symptom scale standardized for use with this age group). In general, the cross-sectional findings were confirmed — vasomotor symptoms, sleep problems and to a lesser extent depressed mood increased during the peri- and postmenopause. However, ratings of general health and use of medical services remained unchanged. A stepwise regression analysis was used to predict depressed mood and hot flushes in peri- and postmenopausal women. The results illustrate the importance of previously existing symptoms, stereotyped beliefs and social factors in explanations of climacteric symptoms.

References (27)

  • JB McKinlay et al.

    The relative contributions of endocrine changes and social circumstances to depression in mid-aged women

    J Health Soc Behav

    (1987)
  • A Holte

    The Norwegian menopause project

  • Office of Population Censuses; Surveys

    Classification of occupations

    (1970)
  • Cited by (235)

    • Characterization of the signature of peripheral innate immunity in women with later-life major depressive disorder

      2020, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
      Citation Excerpt :

      Stressful life events, health and lifestyle factors, and a history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder are associated with the prevalence of MDD and depressive symptoms during the menopausal transition (Gibbs et al., 2013; Kaufert et al., 2008). Several lines of evidence have suggested that changes in reproductive hormone levels are an inducing factor of depression in susceptible women (Deecher et al., 2008; Hunter, 1992; Schiller et al., 2016). However, the biological basis of the sex differences in depression susceptibility is not fully understood.

    • Gene expression alterations in the medial prefrontal cortex and blood cells in a mouse model of depression during menopause

      2016, Heliyon
      Citation Excerpt :

      Biological, genetic, and environmental factors have been found to play crucial roles in the development of MDD (Levinson, 2006; Naismith et al., 2012; Nestler et al., 2002; Sato and Yeh, 2013); however, the exact pathogenesis and the underlying mechanisms that generate depressive symptoms remain largely unknown. The prevalence of MDD is higher in women than in men, and this may be associated with the oscillations in and decline in estrogen levels that occur during the reproductive years and the menopausal transition (Deecher et al., 2008; Hunter, 1992). In addition, psychosocial stressors such as children leaving home, the death and illness of family members, the stresses of daily living, and health and the onset of chronic disease are known as inducible factors for MDD in menopausal women (Kaufert et al., 2008).

    • Menopause and Mental Health

      2016, Encyclopedia of Mental Health: Second Edition
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text