Psychologic Distress and Natural Menopause: A Multiethnic Community Study

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.91.9.1435
• Publication Date: 2008-11-29T13:33:29Z
• Authors: Joyce T. Bromberger; Peter M. Meyer; Howard M. Kravitz; Barbara Sommer; Adriana Cordal; Lynda Powell; Patricia A. Ganz; Kim Sutton-Tyrrell
• Keywords: Adult; China; Black People; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Japan; 5. Gender equality; Risk Factors; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Minority Groups; Analysis of Variance; Asian; Cultural Diversity; Hispanic or Latino; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Black or African American; Cross-Sectional Studies; Logistic Models; Socioeconomic Factors; Female; Menopause; Attitude to Health

Objectives. This study examined the association between psychologic distress and natural menopause in a community sample of African American, White, Chinese, Hispanic, Japanese women participating national women's health study. Methods. A cohort 16 065 aged 40 to 55 years provided information on menstrual regularity previous year, psychosocial factors, health, somatic–psychologic symptoms. Psychologic was defined as feeling tense, depressed, irritable 2 weeks. Results. Rates were highest early perimenopause (28.9%) lowest premenopause (20.9%) postmenopause (22%). In comparison with premenopausal women, perimenopausal at greater risk distress, without adjustment for vasomotor sleep symptoms covariates. Odds significantly higher Whites than other racial/ethnic groups. Conclusions. is associated irregular menses midlife. It important determine whether linked alterations hormone levels what extent mood–hormone relationship may be influenced by socioeconomic cultural factors.