The Journal of Turkish Family Physician · Jun 29, 2026
Assessment of depression and quality of life in women during menopause
By DURGAY MA, Çabuk Aİ, Yayla ME
Introduction: With the increase in life expectancy today, the duration of time women spend in menopause has also extended. Understanding women’s experiences and identifying the symptoms they encounter are crucial during this period. The main objective of this study was to identify which symptoms are more frequently observed in menopausal women presenting to primary care and to determine the impact of these symptoms on women’s depression levels and quality of life. Methods: This study was conducted online and face-to-face with 400 menopausal women who voluntarily agreed to participate. Data were collected from Family Health Centers in Adana Province between January 1, 2023, and May 31, 2023. Participants were administered the Sociodemographic Data Form, the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale, the Beck Depression Scale (BDS), and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Results: The median age of the 400 participants was 54. The most common menopausal symptoms reported were hot flashes, sweating, and irritability, whereas the least common were heart problems and sexual issues. No statistically significant differences were found in the scale scores regarding marital status, having children, living arrangements, smoking status, or the type of menopause onset. The presence of a chronic illness was positively correlated with BDS and MRS scores, and negatively correlated with SF-36 scores. Women whose sexual relationships with their spouses were negatively affected post-menopause exhibited higher BDI and MRS scores, alongside lower SF-36 scores. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between BDS and MRS scores, while SF-36 scores were negatively correlated with both BDS and MRS scores. Conclusion: The symptoms experienced during menopause negatively impact women’s quality of life, physical and mental health. Family physicians, who need to approach individuals from a biopsychosocial perspective, play an important role in identifying and managing priority areas for the delivery of healthcare services for women’s health.