Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress and their association with vitamin D and estrogen levels in postmenopausal women in Semnan

Background and Aim : Depression, stress and anxiety are of the most prevalent psychological disordersamong postmenopausal women. Inadequate evidence is available on the association between vitamin D andestrogen with depression, anxiety and stress in this group.The objective of this study wasdetermine theprevalence of depression, anxiety and stress and their association with vitamin D and estrogen levels inpostmenopausal women in Semnan.Methods : The present analytical cross-sectional study was carried out using multistage sampling amongwomen aged 45 to 70 years in Semnan (Iran) in the summer 2016. Data collection tools were demographicquestionnaire, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Perceived StressScale. In addition, the levels of blood vitamin D and estrogen were measured.Results : In 120 postmenopausal women, depression levels were mild (22.5%), moderate (13.3%) andsevere (1.7%); anxiety levels were mild (46.7%), moderate (50.8%) and severe (2.5%); 79.2% had lowerstress and 20.8% had greater stress. Negative and significant correlations were found between vitamin Dand depression (r=-0.1982, P=0.031), anxiety (r=-0.3636, P <0.001) and stress (r=-0.2884, P=0.001).However, there was no correlation between estrogen with depression (r=-0.130, p=0.159), anxiety (r=-0.105, P=0.254) and stress (r=-0.104, P=0.262). No significant correlation was seen between estrogen andvitamin D (r=-0.070, P=0.450).Conclusion : In postmenopausal women, no significant relationship was observed between estrogen withdepression, anxiety and perceived stress, but there was a significant relationship between vitamin D anddepression, anxiety and stress.

Keywords:

Depression , Anxiety , Stress , Vitamin D , Estrogen , Postmenopausal