Depressive Symptoms In Middle-aged Women Research Articles

Healthy and Unhealthy Dietary Patterns of Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged Women.

Depressive symptoms are a common menopausal feature in middle-aged women and are associated with dietary factors. This study aimed to determine the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in 2190 Korean women aged 45-69 years. Depressive symptoms were screened using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and food intake was examined using a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were derived from principal components analysis and identified two dietary patterns: a "healthy" dietary pattern (high intake of whole-grain rice, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and fish) and an "unhealthy" dietary pattern (high intake of noodles, dumplings, sweets, red meat, soda, and coffee). After adjusting for all confounding factors, those with the highest healthy dietary pattern scores had a 0.56-fold lower risk of depressive symptoms than those with the lowest score (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37-0.84, p for trend = 0.006). Conversely, those with the highest unhealthy pattern scores had a 1.85-fold higher risk of depressive symptoms than that of those in the lowest quartile (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.30-2.63, p for trend = 0.002). In middle-aged women, a dietary pattern of high intake of fiber-rich whole-grain rice, fruits, vegetables, and legumes may help prevent and manage depressive symptoms.

Dietary diversity, physical activity and depressive symptoms among middle-aged women: A cross-sectional study of 48,637 women in China

ObjectiveDepression is the leading cause of mental health-related disease burden. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among dietary diversity, physical activity and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women. MethodBased on the WHO guidelines on physical activity, subjects who meet moderate-intensity aerobic physical exercise of 150–300 min per week were qualified or otherwise unqualified. The dietary diversity scores (DDS) were developed according to the balanced diet pagoda and assessed the consumption of nine food groups. The total scores ranged from 0 to 9 and could divide into three levels: insufficient [DDS-1] (score of 1–5), moderate [DDS-2] (score of 6–7), and sufficient [DDS-3] (score of 8–9). ResultsAn age at menarche ≥12 years old (OR = 0.94; 95 % CI: 0.89–1.00; p < 0.05), a higher dietary diversity score [DDS-3] (OR = 0.59; 95 % CI: 0.55–0.63; p < 0.001), drinking coffee (OR = 0.88; 95 % CI: 0.84–0.92; p < 0.001), and qualified physical activity (OR = 0.69; 95 % CI: 0.66–0.72; p < 0.001) were protective factors for depressive symptoms, while an age at first birth ≤20 years old (OR = 1.23; 95 % CI: 1.12–1.36; p < 0.001) or ≥30 years old (OR = 1.18; 95 % CI: 1.11–1.26; p < 0.001), eating late-night snacks (OR = 1.44; 95 % CI: 1.36–1.52; p < 0.001), drinking sugar-sweetened beverages (OR = 1.15; 95 % CI: 1.06–1.24; p < 0.001), and overeating (OR = 2.30; 95 % CI: 2.069–2.56; p < 0.001) were risk factors. ConclusionThis study suggested that dietary diversity and physical activity are associated with depressive symptoms in middle-aged women. To improve dietary diversity, attention should be given to dietary patterns and dietary habits, instead of simply increasing the amount of food.

Subjective and objective binge episodes in relation to eating disorder and depressive symptoms among middle-aged women.

Evidence suggests loss of control over eating may be the driving component of binge eating, a transdiagnostic symptom of eating disorders and highly comorbid with depressive symptoms. Prior studies have evaluated eating disorder and depressive symptoms across types of binge episodes among adolescent and young adult samples, yet no studies have focused on middle-aged women who may be particularly vulnerable to both binge eating and depressive symptoms. The goal of this study was to compare eating disorder symptoms and depressive symptoms across different types of binge eating episodes among middle-aged women. Women (N = 347), ages 40-63, completed an online survey about both objective (OBE) and subjective binge episodes (SBE), eating disorder symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Participants were categorized as OBEs only, SBEs only, both OBEs and SBEs, and no binge eating. Controlling for group differences, results showed middle-aged women who experienced SBEs only reported greater levels of anorexia nervosa attitudes and behaviors compared to all other groups, and greater dietary restraint compared to those who experienced only OBEs and those with no binge eating. Middle-aged women who experienced any type of binge eating reported greater levels of body image concerns and depressive symptoms compared to those who reported no binge eating. Findings suggest that loss of control is more clinically relevant in terms of associations with eating disorder and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women. Level V based on descriptive studies.

Sexual Function and Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged Women with LongLasting Type 1 Diabetes – A Cross-Sectional Study

Background &amp; aim: Women and men with diabetes, type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) develop complications in small and large blood vessels as well as in nerve pathways over time. In men, erectile dysfunction is a well-documented complication. However, sexual dysfunction in women with different types of diabetes is less studied. Sexual dysfunction is associated with lowered health-related quality of life and depression. The aim of the study was to investigate self-reported sexual function and signs of depression in middle-aged women with long-lasting T1D. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study including the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) together with background questions was designed. The sample was women aged 45-66 with T1D for at least 15 years, identified from clinical medical records at four hospitals in southern Sweden. Descriptive statistical analysis of background factors, depression, and self-reported sexual dysfunction, as well as correlation and regression analysis, are presented. Results: A total of 212 women completed the questionnaire, mean age 54.1 (SD: 5.83), mean years with T1D 36.2 (SD: 11.42). Almost half of the women had sexual dysfunction (45.2%; FSFI &lt; 26.55, max 36) and the mean full score was 23.73 (SD: 10.57). The FSFI domains are desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain. Symptoms of depression measured by PHQ-9 were reported by 39.8%. A low FSFI was significantly associated with severe depression (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Problems with sexual dysfunction and depression in middle-aged women with long-lasting T1D are common and may be unreported unless addressed in clinical care. Nurses could start asking women about problems with lubrication and vaginal pain in relation to sexual activity. Lubricants or local estrogen therapy could prevent those problems. Routinely assessing depressive status is equally important in improving quality of life for women with T1D.

The Association between Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake and Human Brain Connectivity in Middle-Aged Depressed Women.

Omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) intake is known to have a preventive effect on depressive symptoms in a general population. This study assessed the effects of n-3 FA intake on depressive symptoms and brain function in middle-aged women. Depressive symptoms were screened using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) assessment questionnaires, and n-3 FA intakes were assessed using semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. We found that n-3 FA intakes were negatively associated with depressive symptoms in middle-aged women. Psychiatrists diagnosed the presence of depressive disorders using the 5th edition of the Mental Disorder Diagnosis and Statistics Manual (DSM-5). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was performed to investigate the association between n-3 FA intake and brain functional connectivity. Functional connectivity of the right middle frontal cortex (default mode network) and the right middle temporal pole (frontoparietal network) was positively associated with depressive symptom scores and negatively associated with n-3 FA intakes. In conclusion, high n-3 FA intake decreases the risk of depressive symptoms and modifies the brain functional connectivity in middle-aged women.

Relationship between oral health status and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women : The sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES Ⅵ)

Relationship between oral health status and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women : The sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES Ⅵ)

Effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid supplementation on home-based walking training achievement in middle-aged depressive women: randomized, double-blind, crossover pilot study

Depressive patients often experience difficulty in performing exercise due to physical and psychological barriers. We examined the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) with sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) supplementation during home-based walking training in middle-aged depressive women. Nine outpatients [53 ± 8 (SD) yr] with major depressive disorder participated in the pilot study with randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover design. They underwent two trials for 7 days, each performing interval walking training (IWT) with ALA + SFC (ALA + SFC) or placebo supplement intake (PLC) intermittently with >a 10-day washout period. For the first 6 days of each trial, exercise intensity for IWT was measured by accelerometry. Before and after each trial, subjects underwent a graded cycling test, and lactate concentration in plasma ([Lac−]p), oxygen consumption rate ({dot{{bf{V}}}{bf{O}}}_{{bf{2}}}), and carbon dioxide production rate ({dot{{bf{V}}}{bf{text{CO}}}}_{{bf{2}}}) were measured with depression severity by the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). We found that the increases in [Lac−]p, {dot{{bf{V}}}{bf{O}}}_{{bf{2}}} and {dot{{bf{V}}}{bf{text{CO}}}}_{{bf{2}}} during the test were attenuated only in ALA + SFC ([before vs. after] × workload; all, P < 0.01), accompanied by increased training days, impulse, and time at fast walking during IWT (all, P < 0.05) with decreased MADRS-score (P = 0.001). Thus, ALA + SFC supplementation increased IWT achievement to improve depressive symptoms in middle-aged women.

Correlates of depressive symptoms in late middle-aged Taiwanese women: findings from the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that depressive symptoms in middle-aged women were associated with a number of factors such as climacteric symptoms. Nevertheless, studies based on population-based data with a wide range of potential correlates are still scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlates of depressive symptoms in late middle-aged Taiwanese women using data from a nationally-representative, population-based survey.MethodsWomen aged 50.0–65.0 years were identified from the dataset of the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey. The outcome measure was depressive symptoms in the past week, evaluated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CES-D 10) with a cut-off score of 10 or greater. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the correlates of depressive symptoms.ResultsThe mean age of the 533 respondents was 56.7 years. Depressive symptoms were present in 53 respondents (9.9%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that an education level of elementary school or below (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.19, P = 0.003), nulliparity (AOR = 8.10, P = 0.001), living alone (AOR = 5.47, P = 0.003), never having worked (AOR = 4.14, P = 0.008), lack of regular exercise (AOR = 3.01, P = 0.003), a perceived health status of fair or bad (AOR = 4.34, P < 0.001), and somatic climacteric symptoms (AOR = 2.32, P = 0.012) were independent and significant factors of depressive symptoms in late middle-aged Taiwanese women.ConclusionsFindings from this secondary analysis of a population-based survey suggested independent associations of somatic climacteric symptoms, and a number of socio-demographic and health-related factors with depressive symptoms in late middle-aged Taiwanese women.

Comments on Bozzatello et al. Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Psychiatric Disorders: A Review of Literature Data. J. Clin. Med. 2016, 5, 67.

Paola Bozzatello et al. [1] have done a comprehensive qualitative review of the potential use of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders.[...].

Effects of stretching on menopausal and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective:Exercise may help alleviate menopausal and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women, but sufficient evidence does not currently exist to fully support this theory. Whereas frequent moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise may be associated with the risk of menopausal hot flashes, light-intensity exercise, such as stretching, is not likely to increase the occurrence of hot flashes. Little is, however, known about the effects of light-intensity exercise on menopausal and depressive symptoms. We examined the effects of a 3-week stretching program on the menopausal and depressive symptoms in middle-aged, Japanese women.Methods:Forty Japanese women, aged 40 to 61 years, were recruited (mean age, 51.1 ± 7.3 y). The participants were randomly assigned to either a stretching or a control group. The stretching group (n = 20) participated in a 3-week intervention program that involved 10 minutes of daily stretching, just before bedtime. The control group (n = 20) was assigned to a waiting list. Menopausal symptoms were evaluated using the Simplified Menopausal Index, which measures vasomotor, psychological, and somatic symptoms. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale.Results:The compliance rate was 75.8% during the 3-week intervention program. The total Simplified Menopausal Index scores, including the vasomotor, psychological, and somatic symptoms, and the Self-Rating Depression Scale scores significantly decreased in the stretching group compared with that in the control group. No adverse events, including increased hot flashes, were reported by the participants during the study period.Conclusions:These findings suggest that 10 minutes of stretching before bedtime decreases menopausal and depressive symptoms in middle-aged, Japanese women.

Work-family conflict as a mediator in the association between work stress and depressive symptoms: cross-sectional evidence from the German lidA-cohort study.

The demographic change leads to a shrinking German work force. Depressive symptoms cause many days absent at work, loss of productivity and early retirement. Therefore, pathways for prevention of depressive symptoms are important for the maintenance of global competitiveness. We investigated the role of work-family conflict (WFC) in the well-known association between work stress and depressive symptoms. A total of 6,339 employees subject to social insurance, born in 1959 or 1965 and randomly drawn from 222 sample points in Germany participated in the first wave of the leben in der Arbeit-study. In the analysis, 5,906 study subjects working in full-time or part-time positions were included. Work stress was measured by effort-reward imbalance ratio, depressive symptoms by the applied Becks depression inventory (BDI-V) and WFC by items of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ)-scale. Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for age, education, negative affectivity (PANAS), overcommitment and number of children was performed. Mediation was defined according to the criteria of Baron and Kenny. Work stress was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (BDI-V) in all full-time [ß1female = 6.61 (95 % CI 3.95-9.27); ß1male = 8.02 (95 % CI 5.94-10.09)] and female part-time employees [ß2female = 4.87 (95 % CI 2.16-7.59)]. When controlling for WFC effect, estimates became smaller in men and were even halved in women. WFC was also significantly associated with work stress and depressive symptoms: All criteria for partial mediation between work stress and depressiveness were fulfilled. Prevention of WFC may help to reduce days absent at work and early retirement due to work stress-related depressive symptoms in middle-aged women and men.

Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid for the treatment of psychological distress and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial

Background:Psychological distress (PD) and depressive symptoms are commonly observed during menopausal transition. Studies suggest that omega-3 (n–3) fatty acids may help alleviate depression.Objective: The objective was to compare enriched ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (E-EPA) supplementation with placebo for the treatment of PD and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women.Design: Women with moderate-to-severe PD (n= 120) were randomly assigned to receive 1.05 g E-EPA/d plus 0.15 g ethyl-docosahexaenoic acid/d (n= 59) or placebo (n= 61) for 8 wk. The main outcomes were 8-wk changes in PD scores [Psychological General Well-Being Schedule (PGWB)] and depressive scales [20-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist Depression Scale (HSCL-D-20) and the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-21)].Results: At baseline, women with PD were mildly to moderately depressed, and 24% met the major depressive episode (MDE) criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. After 8 wk, outcomes improved in both groups, but no significant differences were noted between them. Stratification analyses for MDE diagnosis at baseline indicated that differences in adjusted 8-wk changes between the E-EPA group without MDE (n= 46) and the placebo group (n= 45) were 8.0 (95% CI: 0.6, 15.3; P= 0.034) for the PGWB, −0.2 (95% CI: −0.01, −0.4; P= 0.040) for the HSCL-D-20, and −2.7 (95% CI: −0.3, −5.1; P= 0.030) for the HAM-D-21. Differences in adjusted 8-wk changes between the E-EPA group with MDE (n= 13) and the placebo group (n= 16) were not significant.Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first trial of n–3 supplementation in the treatment of PD and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women. In women with PD without MDE at baseline, the 8-wk changes in PD and depressive scales improved significantly more with E-EPA than with placebo. This trial was registered at >http://www.controlled-trials.comas ISRCTN69617477.

Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged Women in Peninsular Malaysia

A household survey was carried out in Peninsular Malaysia to determine the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in middle-aged women and to explore its associated factors. Women aged 45 to 60 years were assessed on sociodemographic profiles, menopausal status, depressive symptoms, marital dissatisfaction, and coping strategies. A total of 3934 women participated, and the mean age was 51 years. The prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 54.2%. Of the married women, 38.4% had poor to very severe problems in their marriage. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with marital status (P < .001), ethnicity (P < .001), educational levels (P < .001), occupational status ( P < .001), domicile (P < .001), and menopausal status ( P < .05). Depressive symptoms were correlated with marital dissatisfaction scores. Women who consulted professionals, shared with relatives, kept problems to themselves, or consulted parents/siblings had higher mean scores on depressive symptoms compared with those who did not use these coping strategies.

Prospective Study of Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged Women

Although many studies support an inverse association between physical activity (PA) and depressive symptoms, prospective relationships between these variables have been confounded by pre-existing psychological and physical health problems. This study examined the dose-response relationships between self-reported PA and depressive symptoms, using cross-sectional and prospective data from a population-based cohort of middle-aged women who participated in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) between 1996 and 2001. Participants completed three mailed surveys (S1, 1996; S2, 1998; S3, 2001), which included questions about time spent in walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA, and measures of psychological health (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale [CESD-10], and Mental health [MH] subscale of the Short Form 36 survey). Relationships between previous (S1, S2), current (S3), and habitual (S1, S2, S3) PA and "depressive symptoms" were examined, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related variables (n=9207). Mean CESD-10 scores decreased, and MH scores increased with increasing levels of previous, current, and habitual activity. Odds ratios for CESD-10 scores > or =10 or MH scores < or =52 at S3 were 30% to 40% lower among women who reported the equivalent of > or =60 minutes of moderate-intensity PA per week, compared with those who reported less PA than this. Women who were in the lowest PA category at S1, but who subsequently reported > or =240 metabolic equivalent minutes (MET.mins) per week had lower odds of CESD-10 scores of > or =10 or MH scores < or =52 at S3 than those who remained in the very low PA category. These data suggest that there is a clear relationship between increasing PA and decreasing depressive symptoms in middle-aged women, independent of pre-existing physical and psychological health.

Depressive symptoms in middle-aged women are more strongly associated with physical health and social support than with socioeconomic factors

The association of socioeconomic factors, health-related factors, and social support with depressive symptoms has been extensively studied. However, most epidemiological studies have focused on a few factors such as marital status, social class, and employment. In this study of middle-aged women we analyzed both univariate and multivariate associations of socioeconomic factors, perceived physical health factors, and social support with self-rated depressive symptoms measured with the Beck Depression Inventory. A nationwide sample (n =1851) of Finnish women aged 48 -50 years was analyzed. Socioeconomic, health-related, and social support factors were all measured with single items. All variables, except level of urbanization, were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in univariate analyses. Multivariate associations were examined with standard multiple regression analyses in three stages: first with the socioeconomic factors, then with socioeconomic and health factors, and finally entering the social support factors into the regression model. In the first model, being either on a sick leave or at home as working status, being divorced, and having low income reached significance. In the second model, being divorced and having poor perceived physical health were the most powerful among the five significant variables. In the last model, explaining 32% of the variance, the most powerful predictors of depressive symptoms were perceived current physical health, satisfaction with received social support, and quality of intimate relationships. For the prevention or intervention of depressive symptoms among middle-aged women in the population subjects with concurrent subjective or objective health problems and poor social support seem to comprise a particularly important target group.

A longitudinal study of the effects of pessimism, trait anxiety, and life stress on depressive symptoms in middle-aged women.

A longitudinal study of the effects of pessimism, trait anxiety, and life stress on depressive symptoms in middle-aged women.

Employment status and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women: a longitudinal investigation.

This study investigated the psychological effects of paid employment and nonemployment, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, in 541 middle-aged women. Women were seen for an extensive baseline evaluation and were reevaluated in an identical manner 3 years later. They were divided into four "synthetic" cohorts, based upon employment status at these two assessments. At baseline, nonemployed women reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than employed women, with nonemployed women with less education, low support from family and friends, or low marital satisfaction the most symptomatic. Symptoms decreased in women who were nonemployed initially but employed at the later exam; in all other groups, symptoms increased. Unlike the cross-sectional findings, however, the longitudinal findings showed that women who were nonemployed at baseline and had low levels of education, social support, or marital satisfaction did not benefit more from subsequent employment than did their counterparts who had high levels of these factors. New paid work may have a positive effect on mood for middle-aged women. However, given the contradictions between our cross-sectional and longitudinal results, caution should be exercised in drawing conclusions from cross-sectional studies that likely confound employment status, symptoms, and moderating variables.