The relationship between perceived social support and women experiences in menopause
نویسندگان
1 Ms Student Research Center, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery and Rreproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rreproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Asistent in PhD Social Determinant of Health, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4 PhD in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medical and Health, Tehran, Iran.
doi
10.22037/anm.v25i90.11644چکیده
Abstract:Background and Aim:Menopause is an important issue in the field of reproductive and women's health. Social support can help to reducepost-menopausal women' problems and improve their quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate therelationship between social support and the experiences of menopause.Materials and Methods:This was a descriptive correlative study that was conducted in 2013 in Mashhad, Iran. 220 postmenopausal women aged40 to 65 years were recruited through quota and community-based sampling. Data collection tools includeddemographic questionnaire, multidimensional social support MSPSS, and assessing the experiences of women inmenopause. Validity and reliability of the questionnaires was reviewed and approved before use. Data was analyzed bySPSS 21 software using variance analysis, Spearman correlation coefficient and regression analysis at significant levelof 0.05.Results:The average score of MSPSS was 59.73±15.74 and 60% of women perceived high social support. The average score of"physical and psychological experiences of women" was 33.5±18.1. There was a significant negative correlationbetween social support and the importance people of life(Family, neighbor, doctor,….)with women's experiences ofmenopause (r= - 0/19, p= 0/006 and r=- 0/16, p= 0/01). Also, the “important people” dimension of perceived socialsupport was a better predictor for women's experiences in menopause.Conclusions:Perceived social support has a positive impact on menopausal experiences. "Important people" dimension was a betterpredictor for the women' experiences in menopause.Key words:Health, Menopause, Social Support, Women's Experience.
