Background factors influencing somatic and psychological symptoms in middle-age women with different hormonal status A population-based study of Swedish women.

• Objective: To analyse the influence of socio-demographic characteristics and environmental factors on self-reported somatic and psychological symptoms among middle-aged Swedish women. Methods: A total of 6917 women living in the Lund area of southern Sweden were participates of this study. They completed a generic questionnaire pertaining to socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and current health related problems. According to hormonal status, the participants were subdivided into three groups, i.e. premenopause, postmenopause and perior postmenopausal women with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Results: By using multiple logistic regression models, a high risk for somatic symptoms was independently associated with unemployment, no exercise, unmarried, high body weight and diseases affecting the cardiovascular system as well as a history of cancer. Psychological symptoms were independently associated with higher educational level, unemployment, no exercise, unmarried, heavy smoking habits (>= 15 cig/day), weight gain and a history of cancer. In addition, the background factors seemed to have less impact on symptoms among women who used HRT. Conclusion: Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and concurrent health problems appear to have influences on the frequency and the number of somatic and psychological symptoms in middle-age women. Hormone replacement therapy seems to be able to counteract negative impacts caused by un-healthy lifestyle and other health problems.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

lifestyle factors

socio-demographic factors

HRT

midlife women

psychosomatic symptoms

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)