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A Singapore study suggests that middle-aged women with poor physical condition of the upper and lower body may be more prone to depression and anxiety.
In particular, low strength of the handles and the time required to stay upright on a chair were badociated with depression or higher anxiety symptoms, the study authors reported in the journal Menopause .
"Middle-aged women around the world are in an extremely difficult position: sandwiched between children, aging parents, husband and professional obligations," said study leader, Eu-Leong Yong, from the National University of Singapore.
"They sacrifice themselves to all these demands and sometimes neglect their own needs," he told Reuters Health by e-mail. "Anxiety and depression may not be recognized."
Yong and her colleagues studied more than 1,100 women aged 45 to 69 who had routine gynecology appointments at the National University Hospital in Singapore. During the appointments, the researchers measured the physical performance of the upper body, as reflected by the strength of the handle, forcing women to press a hand dynamometer as hard as possible.
Researchers measured the physical performance of the lower body through gait speed, standing balance, and a repeated test of chair retention, which records the time required to get up from a sitting position five times without using the arms.
The research team used internationally accepted questionnaires to determine whether and during the past week, women experienced symptoms badociated with anxiety and depression, including sadness, uncontrollable anxiety, loss of interest , fatigue, sleep problems and lack of appetite.
A total of 180 women, about 16%, had depressive or anxiety symptoms. Women aged 45 to 54 were more likely to report symptoms.
The symptoms were not related to menopausal status, socio-demographic characteristics or lifestyle variables such as smoking or alcohol consumption.
Physical characteristics and physical performance, however, made a difference. Women with depressive and anxiety symptoms were more often clbadified as having moderate to low physical performance. Low grip strength was badociated with an increased likelihood of symptom increase of 68%. Taking more time with the sit-stand test was badociated with an increased likelihood of symptoms of 33%.
"Our study shows an interesting correlation between the mind and body, indicating that physical strength is closely badociated with mental health," Yong said.
Future studies should determine if strengthening exercises that improve physical performance could help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, he added.
"Although a cause-and-effect badociation between depression and physical strength can not be determined from this correlational study, conclusive clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of exercise, especially exercises. aerobics, on the mood of women, "said Pauline Maki of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Maki, who did not participate in this study, leads the women's mental health research program and has researched the psychological well-being of women in mid-life settings.
Maki pointed out that rates of depression and anxiety tend to be lower among Singaporean women than among Western women. "Always," she told Reuters Health by email, "this study is an important reminder: besides hot flashes, mood symptoms during the menopausal transition are very common. recommend psychotherapies, antidepressant treatment and physical exercise for the symptoms of the mood. "
Despite a busy life, mid-life women should give priority to muscle building and resistance exercises, wrote the study's authors.
"The exercise is fun and free, it alleviates your mood," Yong said. "Take the time to do it and incorporate it into the family routine."
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