Association of depression with Fatigue, sleep alteration and mood swings among postmenopausal faculty and staff of universities in Lahore
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Date
2025
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UMT, Lahore
Abstract
Menopause, a significant physiological change in a woman's life, is often accompanied by a range of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms. This study looked into the associations between postmenopausal women who are faculty and staff at universities in Lahore, Pakistan, and mood swings, depression, fatigue, and sleep issues. Using a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design, data were collected from a conveniently sampled group of postmenopausal women who had experienced amenorrhea for over 12 months. The study utilized validated questionnaires to assess symptom severity and interrelationships. The results showed that fatigue (45.8%), depressive symptoms (65.3% at moderate or higher levels), and poor sleep quality (80%) were also quite prevalent. Menopausal symptoms and depression showed a somewhat favorable link (r = 0.379), although sleep quality showed a mild correlation with both depression (r = 0.251) and fatigue (r = 0.170). However, there were no discernible correlations between the intensity of the symptoms and factors such years since menopause, type of menopause, or usage of hormone replacement therapy. It's interesting to note that surgical menopause was linked to poorer sleep quality but had no effect on fatigue or depression. These findings highlight the complex interplay between biological changes and psychological, behavioral, and personal factors in postmenopausal health issues. The results support multidisciplinary, holistic healthcare models that put individualized care ahead of standard treatment approaches. Improving postmenopausal women's well-being and quality of life, especially in institutional and professional contexts, requires addressing mental health, sleep hygiene, and workplace support networks.