The relationship between postmenopausal women\u2019s body image and the severity of menopausal symptoms

Soheila Nazarpour,Fatemeh Rahnemaei,Khadijeh Dodel Andarvar,Hamid Alavi Majd,Masoumeh Simbar,Zahra Jafari Torkamani

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11643-6

Abstract

BackgroundBody image is the main element of an individual’s personality that may be influenced by many factors during menopause. We aimed to assess the relationship between postmenopausal women’s body image with the severity of menopausal symptoms.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study on 300 postmenopausal women, aged 45 to 65 years old, in Tehran, Iran. We recruited the samples using the multi-stage sampling method. Tools for data collection were: 1) the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS), 2) the Fisher’s Body Image questionnaire and 3) a socio-demographic questionnaire. We analyzed data using the independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression tests.ResultsThree hundred women aged 55.11 ± 3.99 years old, participated in the study. Mean scores for body image and MRS were 163.07 ± 21.17 (Range: 46–230) and 16.45 ± 8.38 (Range: 0–44), respectively. About 50% of women had severe symptoms of menopause (MRS score ≥ 17). There was a negative correlation between the total score and the score of all dimensions of body image with the total score and all dimensions of MRS (P < 0.001). There were also significant relationships between women’s body image with: their education (P < 0.001, r = 0.20) the spouse’s education (P < 0.001, r = 0.26), adequacy of monthly household income (P < 0.001, r = 0.32), marital status (P = 0.36), their occupation (P = 0.007) and housing status (P = 0.012). There was also a significant negative correlation between women’s lower body organs image with the number of children (P = 0.017, r = − 0.14). According to the multiple linear regressions model, severity of menopausal symptoms (Beta = − 0.45, P < 0.001) and adequacy of monthly household income (Beta = 0.15, P = 0.005) are the significant related factors with postmenopausal women’s body image.ConclusionsBody image is correlated with menopausal symptoms of women during menopause. Therefore, it seems that interventions aimed at relieving the annoying symptoms of menopause can help to improve their body image. Also, body image could be influenced by some socio-demographic factors which should be considered in menopause health promotion programs.

Highlights

Body image is the main element of an individual’s personality that may be influenced by many factors during menopause
Body image is correlated with menopausal symptoms of women during menopause
It seems that interventions aimed at relieving the annoying symptoms of menopause can help to improve their body image

Summary

Introduction

Body image is the main element of an individual’s personality that may be influenced by many factors during menopause. Body image is a multidimensional, subjective and dynamic concept that encompasses a person’s perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about their own body [1]. It is one of the main elements of an individuals’ personality [2, 3]. Body image is a person’s perception of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings, positive, negative, or both, which result from that perception [6]. Several factors are shown to influence body image. Several studies showed a relationship between body image with age [8, 9], gender [9, 10], marital status [9], educational level [9, 11], anxiety and depression [7, 12], social phobia [13], smoking and/or alcohol use [14], interpersonal sensitivity [15], obsessed behaviors [15], nutritional deficiencies [7], body mass index [10, 16, 17], low level of physical exercises [18], sexual orientation [19] sexual dysfunction and dyspareunia among women [20]

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