PURPOSE: A dance exercise program was performed to investigate the effects of exercise on exercise intention and exercise-related affect as these are important determinants of exercise behavior. METHOD: The subjects were overweight (23or=25) postmenopausal women (n=14), who participated in an exercise program from May, 2003 through November, 2003 at one public health center located in Kyong-gi Province. Data was analyzed with an SAS PC program. RESULT: Exercise intention was significantly increased after the exercise program (t=-2.24, P=0.04). Exercise-related affect was also increased, but there was no statistically significant change (t=1.81, P=0.09). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that exercise participation can increase the level of future exercise behavior by increasing exercise intention and exercise-related affect.
*Affect ; *Dancing ; *Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Intention ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause/*psychology

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the factors influencing quality of life and difference of quality of life in a postmenopausal group compared to premenopausal women. METHOD: The subjects consisted of 213 women from 40 to 64 years old. The data were collected from June 1, 2003 to June 31, 2004 using structured questionnaires which included questions relating to demographic and obstetric background and 4 scales(climacteric symptoms scale, marital satisfaction scale, sex-role attitude scale, quality of life scale). RESULT: Comparing pre- and postmenopausal women, significant statistical differences were demonstrated in climacteric symptoms and sex-role attitude. However, quality of life was not different between pre- and postmenopausal women. In premenopausal women, marital satisfaction(32.7%) and educational level(8.0%) were significant predictors to explain quality of life. Marital satisfaction(12.9%) was significant predictor to explain quality of life in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION: No difference of quality in life between pre- and postmenopausal women provides information for changing traditional approaches of menopause according to physiological changes as illness. In addition the study showed that it is necessary to use marital satisfaction information when developing nursing interventions to promote the quality of life.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause/*psychology ; Premenopause/*psychology ; *Quality of Life

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of health perception, body image and sexual function on depression according to the menopausal stage in Korean middle aged women. METHODS: Subjects were 182 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who had not received hormonal replacement therapy. A five-item General HealthShort Form (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire (Ware and Sherbourne, 1992) was used to measure health perception. Body image was measured Semantic Differential scale, CES-D was used to measure the level of depression, and sexual function was measured by FSFI. RESULTS: The subjects rated their health as 'moderate', their body image as 'moderate, and level of depression as 'high'. However, there were no significant differences in health perception, body image, and depression between perimenopasual and postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women experienced lower levels of sexual function than perimenopausal women in sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. In stepwise regression analysis, 21.7% of variance in depression was shown to be perceived health and body image in postmenopausal women. However, in perimenopausal women, perceived health and sexual function explained 34.5% of variance in depression. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that nurses must consider the menopasusal stage when counseling their patients.
*Body Image ; Depression/epidemiology/*psychology ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Perimenopause/*psychology ; Postmenopause/*psychology ; Questionnaires ; *Self Concept ; Sexual Behavior/*psychology ; Women's Health

We have relatively limited knowledge of symptomatic aspects of the postmenopause, rather than perimenopause. We tried to determine the factors associated with experiencing menopausal symptoms by Korean postmenopausal women. A total of 657 Korean women who underwent a natural menopause completed multiple questionnaires, which included questions regarding their attitudes to menopause, depressive symptoms, state anxiety, self-esteem, dyadic relationships, sociodemographic variables, and 11-item Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Multiple regression analyses were performed to collectively examine the relative impact of each independent variable on the quality of life, as determined by the MRS. Decreased severity of menopausal symptoms was associated with more time spent in education, an employed status, a history of pregnancy, longer postmenopausal duration, positive attitudes to menopause, higher state anxiety, heightened self-esteem, and higher dyadic consensus. Increased severity of menopausal symptoms was also associated with absence of a partner, alcohol consumption, a history of hormone replacement therapy, a history of probable premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and increased severity of depressive symptoms. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, attitudes to menopause, a dyadic relationship with a partner, and the inner psychological status can be associated with the severity of menopause symptoms specifically in Korean postmenopausal women.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Anxiety/*epidemiology/*psychology ; Comorbidity ; Depression/*epidemiology/*psychology ; Educational Status ; Employment ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Marital Status ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause/*psychology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a moderate-intensity, walking exercise program on the body composition, blood lipids and psychosocial outcomes in postmenopausal obese women. METHODS: With a quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design, a total of 36 postmenopausal obese women was recruited in 2 metropolitan areas by convenience sampling. Sixteen women participated in 1 hour of moderate-intensity walking exercise 5 days per week for 3 months and 20 women did not. Cardiovascular risk factors include body composition and blood lipids. Body composition was measured as body mass index, % body fat, and waist/hip ratio; Blood lipids were measured with total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL; psychosocial outcomes were evaluated by self-esteem and depression. RESULTS: Over 3 months, the score of self-esteem increased and depression decreased in the exercise group relative to the control group. However, there were no significant differences in body composition and blood lipids. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that 3 months of moderate-intensity exercise training can improve psychosocial outcomes but further studies are needed to replicate walking exercise on physiologic variables among postmenopausal obese women. These findings are of public health relevance and add a new facet to the growing literature on the health benefits of moderate exercise.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/*psychology/*therapy ; *Postmenopause ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; *Walking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Koryo Hand Therapy (KHT) on menopausal symptoms and hormone levels (Follicle Stimulating Hormone [FSH], Luteinizing Hormone [LH], and estradiol [E2]) in climacteric women. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Data were collected from November 28, 2005 to February 28, 2006. The 45 participants were assigned to either the experimental group (23) or control group (22). KHT was applied three times a week, for a total of 8 weeks to the women in the experimental group. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in menopausal symptoms (F=42.49, p=.000), FSH level (F=26.98, p=.000) and LH level (F=5.31, p=.026) between the experimental and control groups. There was an increase of the estradiol level in the experimental group but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: KHT can be applied as a supportive nursing intervention to climacteric women. KHT is expected to be a complementary alternative intervention for health management of the climacteric women.
Adult ; Climacteric ; *Complementary Therapies ; Estradiol/*blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/*blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone/*blood ; Middle Aged ; *Postmenopause/blood/psychology ; Psychometrics

PURPOSE: This study was done to propose and test a predictive model that would explain and predict fall prevention behaviors in postmenopausal women. The health belief model was the theoretical basis to aid development of a nursing intervention fall prevention program. METHODS: Data for 421 postmenopausal women were selected from an original data set using a survey design. The structural equation model was tested for 3 constructs: modifying factors, expectation factors, and threat factors. Expectation factors were measured as relative perceived benefit (perceived benefit minus perceived barrier), self-efficacy, and health motivation; threat factors, as perceived susceptibility (fear of falling) and perceived severity (avoiding activity for fear of falling); and modifying factors: level of education and knowledge about fall prevention. Data were analyzed using SPSS Windows and AMOS program. RESULTS: Mean age was 55.7 years (range 45-64), and 19.7% had experienced a fall within the past year. Fall prevention behaviors were explained by expectation and threat factors indicating significant direct effects. Mediating effect of health beliefs was significant in the relationship between modifying factors and fall prevention behaviors. The proposed model explained 33% of the variance. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that fall prevention education should include knowledge, expectation, and threat factors based on health belief model.
Accidental Falls/*prevention & control ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; *Models, Theoretical ; Postmenopause ; Women/*psychology

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a major health problem in postmenopausal women, along with psychological issues. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and mental health properties targeting middle-aged menopausal women, and analyzed the psychological factors affecting the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. METHODS: The study subjects were 479 postmenopausal women aged 45-64 years, who had taken their routine health screenings from August to October in 2012. The presence of 3 or more of 5 risk factors constitutes diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Depression, trait anxiety, and stress level were measured by Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Inventory, and Brief Encounter Psychological Instrument, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and psychological characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women was 16.5%. Metabolic syndrome was significantly related with trait anxiety (odds ratio [OR]=16.53, P=0.007) and depression (OR=0.16, P=0.012), after adjusting for age, marital status, educational level, monthly income, body mass index, eating habits and exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Trait anxiety and depression were found to be related with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.
Anxiety ; Body Mass Index ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Mental Health ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Postmenopause ; Prevalence ; Psychology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To identify the power of tumor markers for predicting ovarian cancer according to menopausal status. METHODS: The medical records of 876 women with ovarian cysts were retrospectively reviewed. Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), and Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) were analyzed. Sensitivity, specificity, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses of these tumor markers were evaluated. RESULTS: The sensitivity of ROMA was 66.7% and the specificity was 86.8% to detect ovarian malignancy. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to menopausal status: premenopause (n=532, 60.7%) and postmenopause (n=344, 39.3%). For diagnostic accuracy, ROMA was lower than HE4 in premenopausal women (82.7% vs. 91.4%) and lower than CA 125 in postmenopausal women (86.9% vs. 88.7%). The ROC curve analysis revealed that the power of ROMA was not significantly better than that of HE4 in premenopausal women (area under the curve [AUC], 0.731 vs. 0.732, p=0.832), and it was also not significantly better than that of CA 125 in postmenopausal women (AUC, 0.871 vs. 0.888, p=0.440). CONCLUSION: The discrimination power of tumor markers for ovarian cancer was different according to menopausal status. In predicting ovarian malignancy, ROMA was neither superior to HE4 in premenopausal women nor superior to CA 125 in postmenopausal women.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; CA-125 Antigen ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Epididymis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Menopause ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Postmenopause ; Premenopause ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Roma ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify degrees of pain, menopause symptoms, and quality of life, and to identify factors influencing quality of life of patients with breast cancer who were on hormone therapy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized. Data were collected using questionnaires from 110 patients with breast cancer who had been on hormone therapy for 3 months or more and were being treated at a university hospital in Seoul. Data were analyzed using chi2-test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Mean age of the participants was 53.56 (SD=6.67) and 54 (51.4%) had stage 0 or I at the time of diagnosis. Most of the participants reported having pain and menopause symptoms (88.2% and 95.5% respectively). The mean score for quality of life was 87.84+/-21.17. Pain, menopause symptoms and quality of life had strong correlations with each other (p<.005). Quality of life was explained by menopause symptoms (beta= -.71), economic status (beta=.20) and occupation (beta=.16). CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that menopause symptoms should be incorporated into oncologic nursing care to improve quality of life of patients with breast cancer on hormone therapy.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy/*psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Hot Flashes ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Postmenopause ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Socioeconomic Factors