The Relationship between Postmenopausal Women's Self-Esteem and Physical Activity Level-A Survey Study from Poland

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Physical inactivity is a significant public health issue in Western societies.
• The impact of physical activity (PA) on psychological health, particularly self-esteem in postmenopausal women, remains under-explored.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate self-esteem and physical activity levels among postmenopausal women.
• To investigate the association between physical activity levels and self-esteem in this population.

Main Methods:

• Survey research conducted in women's health clinics in Silesia, Poland.
• Participants included 131 postmenopausal women (mean age 58.81 ± 7.68).
• Utilized the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory.

Main Results:

• A high percentage (78.76%) of postmenopausal women reported being physically active.
• The average physical activity level was 1543.46 ± 1060.92 MET-min/week, with walking being the most common activity.
• A significant minority (11.51%) experienced low self-esteem, but no significant correlation was found between overall physical activity levels and self-esteem (r = -0.241, p = 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Postmenopausal women generally exhibit average self-esteem and are typically active.
• Despite high levels of physical activity, there is no discernible positive influence on self-esteem in this group.
• Further research may be needed to explore other factors influencing self-esteem in postmenopausal women.