Factors Influencing Sexual Function in Postmenopausal Married Women

Factors influencing the health-related quality of life in Korean menopausal women: a cross-sectional study based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms

Purpose

Based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms (TOUS), this study aimed to examine the direct effect of antecedent factors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its indirect effect via symptoms in Korean women during the late menopausal transition (MT) and early postmenopause.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey employed a descriptive correlational research design. The respondents were 152 middle-aged women 40 to 60 years with an intermenstrual interval of 60 days or more (late MT) or less than 5 years from the last menstrual period (early postmenopause). The respondents were recruited through convenience sampling in Busan, Korea, from December 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021. Based on the TOUS, self-report data were collected on perceived health status, psychological distress, social support, menopausal symptoms, and HRQoL. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the Hayes' PROCESS macro.

Results

TOUS was supported on this sample (n=152) of Korean women during the late MT and early postmenopause. Perceived health status, psychological distress, and social support had significant direct relationships with HRQoL. Menopausal symptoms had significant indirect relationships between antecedent factors (perceived health status, psychological distress, and social support) and partially mediated HRQoL.

Conclusion

The findings of this study indicate that menopausal symptoms play an important role as an intervening factor of HRQoL in women during the late MT and early postmenopause. Therefore, women need an integrated program that manages antecedent factors and menopausal symptoms to improve HRQoL in these menopausal stages.

[Factors influencing quality of life in post-menopausal women]

Purpose

This study aimed to identify factors influencing quality of life in post-menopausal women.

Methods

The participants were 194 post-menopausal women who visited a women's clinic in Changwon, Korea from July 1 to August 31, 2018, and completed questionnaires containing items on menopausal symptoms, marital intimacy, current menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and quality of life. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression using SPSS for Windows version 23.0.

Results

Quality of life had a significant negative correlation with menopausal symptoms (r=-.40, p<.001), and a significant positive correlation with marital intimacy (r=.54, p<.001). The factors influencing the quality of life of post-menopausal women were current MHT (t=6.32, p<.001), marital intimacy (t=4.94, p<.001), monthly family income (t=4.78, p<.001), menopausal symptoms (t=-4.37, p<.001), and education level (t=3.66, p<.001). These variables had an explanatory power of 59.2% for quality of life in post-menopausal women.

Conclusion

In order to improve the quality of life of post-menopausal women, nursing interventions are needed to help menopausal women choose appropriate MHT, alleviate menopausal symptoms, and increase marital intimacy. Interventions should also be prioritized for women of a low educational level and with a low income in consideration of their health problems.

Factors Affecting the Sexual Function of Pregnant Women

PURPOSE

To determine whether maternal attitude toward sex during pregnancy and health-related quality of life could influence sexual function of pregnant women.

METHODS

In this study, 138 second and third trimester pregnant women completed self-report questionnaires during their visits to women's hospitals or community health centers to assess their general characteristics, attitude toward sex during pregnancy (PIES-M), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), and sexual function (FSFI-6K). Multiple regression analysis was performed to test the research model with SPSS version 23.

RESULTS

Pregnant women who had discontinued their sexual life after recognizing their pregnancy accounted for 27.5% of women questioned. The average sexual function score of pregnant women was higher in the second trimester than the third trimester. Attitude toward sex during pregnancy (β=-.38, p< .001), maintaining sexual life (β=.20, p=.028), health-related quality of life (β=.18, p=.030), and adverse symptoms during sex (β=.18, p=.042) were determinants of sexual function during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Nurses in antenatal care units need to help pregnant women maintain a positive attitude toward sexual activity during pregnancy and manage their health-related quality of life to maintain their sexual life during pregnancy.

Factors related to age at menopause among Korean women: the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing age of menopause among Korean women.

METHODS

For this secondary analysis study, panel data for Waves 4 through 6 of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women were used. Women aged 40 to 60 who were menstruating at Wave 4 were included in the analysis (N = 5,437). Sociodemographic, health status, and health behavioral factors were examined to explore their influence on menopause using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Korean women who perceived themselves to be overweight or obese, who had depressive symptoms, or who smoked or were current smokers had higher probabilities of experiencing the onset of menopause, whereas those who had educational achievement lower than high school had a lower probability of experiencing the onset menopause.

CONCLUSIONS

Various factors influenced menopause, including sociodemographic, health status, and health behaviors. Specific tailored interventions for the management of depressive symptoms and smoking cessation could be developed to target modifying variables for Korean women, in preparation for menopause. Also, the role of perceived body weight on menopause could be further explored to identify sociocultural factors for age at menopause.