Comparison of quality of life, meaning of life, body image and mental health in two groups of menopausal and non-menopausal women with emphasis on their level of education in Tehran.

Dissertation for M.A)

General Psychology Orientation

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this research is to compare the quality of life, meaning life, body image and mental health in two groups of menopausal and non-menopausal women with emphasis on their level of education.

Method of investigation: In the current comparative causal research, the statistical population included all menopausal and non-menopausal women in the 5th district of Tehran (2013). The statistical sample consisted of 179 people, of which 94 were menopausal and 85 were non-menopausal. General health questionnaire (28-GHQ), women's quality of life questionnaire (26 questions), Steiger and Fraser's 10-item meaning of life questionnaire, physical self-description questionnaire (47 items) and demographic characteristics were used. The data were analyzed with an independent t test and bivariate analysis of variance.

The research findings indicate a significant difference between the quality of life in postmenopausal and non-menopausal women with a diploma level of education, which means that the quality of life in non-menopausal women with a diploma level of education is better than the quality of life in postmenopausal women with the same level of education. However, there was no difference in the quality of life of women with the level of primary and university education in these two groups (menopausal and non-menopausal women), so the higher the level of education of women, the more favorable their quality of life. Also, in this research, body image, meaning of life and mental health were the same between menopausal and non-menopausal women and there was no significant difference, but the higher the education level of both groups of women, the more favorable the body image and the higher the level of mental health. Key words: menopause, quality of life, meaning of life, body image, mental health. Introduction: Menopause is a global phenomenon for women. It is a biological process, characterized by the fall of estradiol and progesterone and the rise of follicle-stimulating hormone, also known as a stage of life with a changed role, including the end of fertility potential and leaving the home.

Although menopause is considered a natural stage of women's life, a significant number of women experience various problems before and after it.

Menopause is a physiological event similar to menarche (first menstruation) that usually occurs in women over 50 years of age and is associated with symptoms of decreased estrogen levels. Menopause may affect women's quality of life and even endanger their health. Menopause is one of the important stages of life and a part of old age that can be inspiring and beneficial if viewed with a positive perspective, however, menopause is a phenomenon that no one wants to discuss and even if it is discussed, it is treated with disappointment and negativity. According to people in the society, characteristics such as youth, beauty, and attractiveness are valuable in women, and menopausal women are presented as wrong, irrational, nervous, violent, and lacking in sexual power, and because they are not given much attention, they are gradually forgotten in society. Menopause is the end of the reproductive period; When this period comes, menopausal women experience degrees of shock, disbelief and sadness. This period is characterized by physical symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, urogenital symptoms, and psychological symptoms such as irritability, mood disorders, anxiety, tension, decreased self-confidence, emotional instability, memory loss, which can affect the physical, mental, and sexual health of menopausal women and affect work, social activities, leisure time, sleep, mood, concentration, communication with others, and enjoyment of life and the quality of a person's life (Forohari, 2018).

Having meaning and concept in life or in other words searching for meaning in life is one of the concerns of today's human being which not only affects his personal life but also plays an important role in his relationships with other human spheres. In this way, finding a way to achieve such a goal is one of the most important human issues that requires as much effort as possible to realize it.

Quality of life is a broad concept that has different meanings for different people and groups, some consider it as the livability of an area, some consider it as general well-being, social well-being, happiness, satisfaction, being good, having a purposeful (meaningful) life, fulfilling needs or objective factors such as income and health status. Quality of life is a multifaceted concept, but at the same time it can be defined and measured with an interdisciplinary approach. The surveys conducted indicate the fact that the quality of life has been looked at from different perspectives. The quality of life is a relative thing that there is no absolute, comprehensive and universal standard to measure it. It is a concept that is strongly affected by time and place, and the factors affecting it change depending on the period of time, place, geography, and cultural conditions. The components of quality of life are defined based on individual and national values, and there is no doubt that the realities and objective conditions of society and the material condition of a person's life also play a decisive role in it. But on the other hand, it should be noted that man is a creature that lives based on his mental image of reality, not reality itself, and his behavior is his mental impression and understanding of reality that does not necessarily conform to reality, these attitudes can be changed. (Khwarazmi, 2006).

Quality of life, according to the definition of the World Health Organization, is the perception of people about the state of life in the field of culture and the value system in which they live, which is related to their goals, expectations and criteria (Davaihi and Singh 2001). In this view, quality of life is a comprehensive concept that affects physical health, personal growth, psychological states, independence level, social relationships and relationships with prominent environmental institutions. Acceptance is also based on the individual's perception (Puigdelers et al., 2004).

Researchers believe that physical health is affected by psychological development and the improvement of mental health is based on the prevention and treatment of emotional tensions. Therefore, whenever the level of mental health decreases, performance in other areas of quality of life is also compromised. to threaten themselves[1] and promote the feeling of social separation[2] in them. So far, no comprehensive theory has been able to adequately explain the cause of menopause alone. On the other hand, whether menopause is a beneficial evolutionary trait or simply one of the side effects of aging is a matter of disagreement among scientists. In this research, we have discussed the effects of menopause on the quality of life, meaning of life, body image, and mental health in women.

It can be a transitory period in life and does not have much effect on the research variables. In fact, every person gained the meaning of his life in social beliefs, cultural, social structure and family, and the quality of life of every person is not dependent on different transitory periods. After all, the role of women's education should not be overlooked and the effect of education on the dependent variables of this research should be observed.

1-2. Statement of the problem

Women are one of the most important pillars of society and family, and the health of the society depends on meeting their various needs, while one of the most critical stages in women's lives is menopause (Rousseau, Anderson, Printik [3], 2002). Determining the age of menopause is somewhat difficult and based on the estimation of cross-sectional studies, the average is around 50 to 52 years old (Shaw, Soyot, Stanton [4], 2005). It seems that the number of menopause symptoms is countless, but fortunately, no one experiences them all, some women have no obvious symptoms at all. Despite this, it is estimated that about 75% of women experience acute symptoms after menopause. At this stage of life, women will face many problems and complications caused by the lack of sex hormones, and as a result, their quality of life will be affected by these problems (Jones, Houd, 2003). Menopause crisis affects mental, physical, emotional health, social functioning and family relationships due to its symptoms and complications. The set of these effects can be put in a single concept called quality of life. According to the definition of the World Health Organization, "quality of life" is people's perception of their position in life according to the cultural context and value systems in which they live, taking into account their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. In the case of postmenopausal women, quality of life usually refers to health-related aspects of quality of life according to a set of symptoms, regardless of physical, emotional, and social functioning; Therefore, often the term "quality of life" simply means the presence of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.