OBJECTIVES To investigate the influence and specificity of sociodemographic and psychological factors on the perception of symptoms associated with menopause. STUDY DESIGN Data are based on a nationwide cross-sectional survey study in Germany. A representative sample of 1350 females aged 14-95 years was examined. Sociodemographic factors, perceived stress, and self-efficacy were assessed. Women were divided into three age groups (young women ≤ 44 years; perimenopausal women 45-60 years; older women ≥ 61 years), and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was used over the entire life span. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Total score on the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and hot flushes/sweating assessed via the MRS. RESULTS The MRS total score increased with age. Both MRS total score and hot flushes were positively associated with perceived stress in all three age groups. The MRS total score was negatively associated with self-efficacy; for hot flushes, this association could be shown for perimenopausal women only. Furthermore, interaction effects between perceived stress and self-efficacy were found: in perimenopausal and older women, the association between perceived stress and the MRS total score was stronger the lower self-efficacy was. This interaction effect was not observed in younger women. No interaction effect was found in any age group for hot flushes. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that self-efficacy influences the severity of symptoms measured with the MRS. Interventions aimed to reduce stress and strengthen self-efficacy could lead to a lower symptom burden in perimenopausal women.

中文翻译：

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压力和自我效能感在更年期躯体和心理症状中的作用——是否存在特定的关联？


目的 调查社会人口学和心理因素对更年期相关症状感知的影响和特异性。研究设计 数据基于德国的一项全国性横断面调查研究。对 1350 名 14-95 岁女性的代表性样本进行了检查。评估了社会人口因素、感知压力和自我效能。将女性分为三个年龄组（年轻女性≤44岁；围绝经期女性45-60岁；老年女性≥61岁），并在整个生命周期中使用更年期评定量表（MRS）。主要结果指标 更年期评定量表 (MRS) 的总分以及通过 MRS 评估的潮热/出汗。结果MRS总分随着年龄的增长而增加。在所有三个年龄组中，MRS 总分和潮热均与感知压力呈正相关。 MRS总分与自我效能感呈负相关；对于潮热，这种关联仅适用于围绝经期女性。此外，还发现感知压力与自我效能之间存在交互作用：在围绝经期和老年女性中，自我效能越低，感知压力与 MRS 总分之间的相关性越强。在年轻女性中没有观察到这种相互作用效应。在任何年龄组中均未发现潮热的交互作用。结论 我们的数据表明，自我效能影响 MRS 测量的症状的严重程度。旨在减轻压力和增强自我效能的干预措施可能会减轻围绝经期女性的症状负担。