J Korean Acad Womens Health Nurs.  2000 Sep;6(3):383-397.

The Relationship between the Stress and Climacteric symptoms of Middle-Aged Women

• Park BH
• Lee YS

Abstract

This study of purpose was to define the relationship between the stress and climacteric symptoms of middle-aged women in order to provide basic data for the development of women's health care program as nursing intervention. The research tools used were a Soon-Young Park's stress questionnaire(4 points scale) and a self diagnostic MENSI scale(3 points scale) developed by a research team of Ill-Yang Pharmacy Co. This research was conducted in Korea in Muan-Gun. Chonnam province. from 22th November to 20th December. 1999. The research used a survey design. Seven hundred eleven healthy middle-aged women. aged 40 to 64, and were a convenience sample by stratified ratio using the matching fixed residential and aging blocks. The data were analyzed by GLM. Pearson correlation coefficient and Scheffe test using SAS/ PC+. The results were summarized as follows : 1. The percentage of psychological stress with the following items were fatigue and enervation. 70.0%; nervous. 61.8%: weakness. 58.5%: The percentage of physical stress with the following items were : fatigue of eye. 82.3%; backache. 78.0%: headache. 73.8%. 2. The level of psychological stress were 40% of below average level(0-5 points). 31.7% of average level(6-12points). 20.8% of precaution level (13-19points), and 7.5% of warning level(over 20points). The level of physical stress were 20.1% of below average level(0-5 points). 34.8% of average level(6-12 points). 29.4% of precaution level (13-19 points). and 15.7% of warning level(over 20 points). There were higher physical stress level than psychological stress level of the subjects. 3. The percentage of climacteric symptoms with the following items were: numbness. 75.3%: forgetfulness. 71.0%: pain of joints. 71.0%. The level of climacteric symptoms were 61.8 % of mild level I(10-15 points). 33.0% of moderate leve (16-30 points). 5.2% of severe level(over 31 points). 4. There were high positive correlations significantly between the climacteric symptoms and the psychological stress (r=.564, P<0.000). and between the climacteric symptoms and the physical stress of the subjects(r= .678, P<0.000). 5. There were significant differences in the climacteric symptoms of the subjects among below average level. average level. precaution level. and warning level of the psychological stress(F= 74.108, P<0.000, Scheffe test). 6. There were significant differences in the climacteric symptoms of the subjects among below average level. average level and precaution level. and warning level of the physical stress((F= 128.181, P<0.000, Scheffe test). In summary. climacteric symptoms complained by middle-aged women are high positive correlated to the level of the stress. Also climacteric symptoms were affected by stress.

MeSH Terms

Aging
Back Pain
Climacteric*
Fatigue
Female
Headache
Humans
Hypesthesia
Jeollanam-do
Joints
Korea
Nursing
Pharmacy
Stress, Psychological
Women's Health