Differential Impact of Sociodemographic Variables on the Quality of Life of Menopausal Iranian Women

Background: Menopause is a natural physiological event in women’s lives that can potentially have negative effects on their quality of life (QoL). Objectives: The aim of the present study was to explore the extent to which sociodemographic characteristics are related to QoL and to compare the QoL of Iranian women with that of women in other countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using cluster sampling of 250 postmenopausal women in Hamadan in the west part of Iran in 2014. The participants were interviewed and completed questionnaires. These methods provided data on sociodemographic characteristics and menopause-specific QoL factors (vasomotor symptoms, psychosocial symptoms, physical symptoms, and sexual satisfaction). The QoL evidence was also compared with normative data from other countries. Inferential and descriptive statistics via SPSS 20.0 software were used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 52.27 years (SD = 3.84). The average scores of their vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual dimensions were 3.86, 2.30, 2.44, and 1.35, respectively. Sociodemographic dimensions, such as smaller age, being married, having a lower education level, and having a higher number of children, were related to sexual symptoms. Vasomotor symptoms were related to lower education and lower income. Psychosocial symptoms and physical symptoms were related to hormone replacement therapy. The QoL results did not differ from the normative data from other countries. Conclusions: Sociodemographic dimensions were related to QoL, particularly to sexual satisfaction. The QoL results for postmenopausal Iranian women do not differ from results from other countries, suggesting that cultural factors do not influence QoL among postmenopausal Iranian women.