The Correlation between Menopausal Women's Attitude Towards Menopause and Depression in Northeast Iran

Abstract Background: Menopause is a crucial and inherent biological event in women's lives. Menopausal women are more prone to depression than individuals who are not experiencing menopause. This study aims to establish the correlation between women's attitudes toward menopause and depression in Esfarayen, Northeast Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study included 335 menopausal women referring to health centers and health houses in Esfarayen using multistage sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire, the Knowledge and Attitude Toward Menopause Questionnaire by Noroozi et al., and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics with SPSS version 26. Results: The participants' mean age was 55.81 ± 5.30 years, and 59.7% lived in urban areas. The mean score of attitudes towards menopause in menopausal women was 30.04 ± 4.28, and the mean depression score was 10.03 ± 8.6. There was a significant difference in attitude toward menopause among different levels of education, income satisfaction, residential status, marital status, and living arrangements. According to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, residential status (β = -1.451, p = 0.007), income satisfaction (β = 0.803, p = 0.027), and living arrangements (β = 1.627, p = 0.026) were predictors of attitude toward menopause. There was a significant inverse relationship between participants’ attitudes toward menopause and depression. Conclusion: This study provides deeper insight into the relationship between attitude toward menopause and depression in menopausal women, which can guide healthcare providers toward offering a valid educational package or protocol to improve the health and quality of life during the menopausal period.