Orawan Churoek. Relationships among stressful life events, role strain, health status, and depression in postmenopausal women. Master's Degree(Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2005.
Relationships among stressful life events, role strain, health status, and depression in postmenopausal women
Abstract:
This study was a descriptive research aiming to investigate the relationships among stressful life events, role strain, health status and depression in postmenopausal women. The sample was 100 postmenopausal women, age less than 60 years who have not had menstruation for at least 12 connective months and lived in Dindaeng Community (National Housing Authority), Bangkok. Data were collected by interview from December 2004 to February 2005. The research instrument composed of five questionnaires including Personal information questionnaire, the Stressful Life Events Scale, the Womens Role Strain Inventory, the General Health Perception Battery and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Statistical analyses used were percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearsons Product Moment Correlation. The result revealed that 28 percent of the sample had depression, the mean scores of stressful life events was 30.17 (SD =5.98, median=62.5), role strain was 109.22 (SD=16.87, median=132), and health status was 91.00 (SD=14.53, median=78). Stressful life events and role strain had a positive correlation with depression (r = .566, .374, p< .01). Health status was negatively correlated with depression (r = - .411, p< .01). The results of this study indicated that psychiatric nurses and other healthcare professionals have an important role in preventing depression in postmenopausal women. These women should be prepared to have a better understanding of stressful life events and/or role strains that they may encounter during the period of post menopause so that they can effectively overcome stressful life events and be able to manage their role strain when they actually encounter that period of life.