This study investigates the attitudes of postmenopausal women toward menopause and various related factors and assesses levels of depression and quality of sexual life. This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and December 2023 in a public hospital in Turkey with a total of 160 menopausal women. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires. Menopause Attitude Assessment Scale (MAAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire were used as data collection tools. The study group’s ages ranged from 42 to 75, with a mean age of 54.76 ± 5.42 years. Their scores on the MAAS varied from 6 to 48, averaging 26.71 ± 8.14. Women with mild menopausal symptoms tended to hold more positive attitudes toward menopause. No significant correlation was found between the BDI and the MAAS scores (r = -0.129; p = 0.104). However, a positive correlation emerged between positive menopausal attitudes and higher sexual quality of life (r = 0.287; p = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, Beck Depression Inventory scores (β = 0.285, p < 0.001) and quality of sexual life scores (β = − 0.271, p < 0.001) were found to be independently associated with MAAS scores. This study suggests that menopausal attitudes in postmenopausal women may be associated with sexual quality of life and depression levels. However, causal inferences cannot be made due to the cross-sectional design.
Şahin et al. (Tue,) studied this question.