Highlights
- •More than one out of four post-menopausal women in Greece were screen-positive for depression based on the BDI–II.
- •Smoking, age, unemployment and a history of depression were associated with a higher risk of post-menopausal depression.
- •Early post-menopause is highly critical for the emergence of depressive symptoms.
- •Lack of health insurance and obesity are also associated with a greater risk of severe post-menopausal depression.
Abstract
Objectives
The impact of depression on post-menopausal women is an important public health issue
but remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence
of post-menopausal depression in Greece and outline the profile of the women it affects.
Study design
A sample of post-menopausal women completed an anonymous, self-administered, web-based
survey which included the Beck Depression Inventory-ΙΙ (BDI-II) and questions regarding
socio-demographic data.
Main outcome measures
The dependent variable of interest was a BDI-II score ≥ 20 (the cut-off for moderate
depression according to the BDI).
Results
Overall, 502 post-menopausal women participated in the study. The median BDI-II score
was 13 (range 0–50); 136 (27.1%) of the women scored ≥ 20 and were considered screen-positive
for depression. According to the multivariate logistic regression model, age< 55 years
(OR: 1.621; 95% CI: 1.036–2.535), not working (OR: 1.580; 95% CI: 1.013–2.465), smoking
(OR: 1.656; 95% CI: 1.081–2.536) and history of depression (OR: 1.650; 95% CI: 1.045–2.604)
were independently associated with post-menopausal depression. Subgroup analyses revealed
that current smokers (OR: 2.514; 95% CI: 1.485–4.256) had higher odds of moderate
depression, while obesity (OR: 2.455; 95% CI: 1.206–4.996), absence of healthcare
insurance (OR: 4.413; 95% CI: 1.970–9.887) and a history of depression (OR: 2.253;
95% CI: 1.212–4.190) were identified as independent risk factors for severe post-menopausal
depression.
Conclusions
More than one out of four post-menopausal women were screen-positive for symptoms
indicative of depression, while a personal history of depression, age < 55 years,
smoking and current working status were independent predictors of its emergence.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 27, 2021
Accepted:
October 24,
2021
Received in revised form:
July 29,
2021
Received:
November 17,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
