Perceived stress, insomnia and related factors in women around the menopause

Studies assessing perceived stress and insomnia in mid-aged women are scarce.

To assess perceived stress, insomnia and related factors in mid-aged Spanish women.

This was a cross sectional study in which 235 women aged 40-65 completed the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and a general socio-demographic questionnaire containing personal and partner data. Internal consistency of each tool was also computed.

Median [interquartile range] age of the sample was 52 [9.0] years. A 61.3% were postmenopausal, 49.4% had increased body mass index values, 43.8% were abdominally obese, 11.9% had hypertension, and 74.0% had a partner. In addition, 9.8% used hormone therapy and 12.3% psychotropic drugs. Multiple linear regression analysis found that higher PSS scores (more stress) inversely correlated with female age and positively with MRS psychological and urogenital scores (impaired quality of life in these domains), total higher ISI scores (more insomnia) and partner premature ejaculation. Higher ISI scores positively correlated with PSS and MRS somatic scores and partner unfaithfulness, and inversely with female hip circumference.

In this mid-aged Spanish sample perceived stress and insomnia were significantly correlated and related to various female and partner issues.