Physical activity, symptoms, esteem, and life satisfaction during menopause

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Menopause is associated with various physical and psychological symptoms that can impact quality of life (QOL).
• Physical activity (PA) is recognized for its health benefits, but its specific role in mitigating menopausal symptoms and enhancing QOL requires further investigation.
• Understanding the interplay between PA, symptom reporting, self-esteem, and life satisfaction is crucial for developing targeted interventions for mid-life women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationships among physical activity (PA), symptom reporting, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life (SWL) in women of varying menopausal status.
• To investigate the mediating roles of physical self-worth (PSW) and menopausal symptoms in the association between PA and SWL.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 133 women aged approximately 51 years.
• Data collected on physical activity levels (MET-h/week), symptom frequency and severity, physical self-worth (PSW), and satisfaction with life (SWL).
• Statistical analyses included multivariate analyses of co-variance (MANCOVA) and hierarchical regression.

Main Results:

• Higher levels of physical activity were associated with significantly less severe menopausal symptoms (vaso-somatic and general somatic) and higher physical self-worth (PSW).
• Physical activity, reported symptoms, and PSW collectively explained a significant portion of the variance in satisfaction with life (SWL).
• Physical activity influenced SWL indirectly through the mediation of PSW, and also directly, while symptom severity and frequency remained significant predictors of SWL.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity may serve as a protective factor, reducing the perceived severity of menopausal symptoms and enhancing psychological well-being in mid-life women.
• The positive relationship between physical activity and quality of life (QOL) appears to be mediated by improvements in physical self-perceptions and a reduction in menopausal symptoms.
• Interventions promoting physical activity could be beneficial for improving the overall QOL of women experiencing menopause.