Assessment of self-esteem in mid-aged women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess self-esteem and affecting factors in a middle-aged Ecuadorian female population using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study in which 149 women (40-59 years) were requested to fill out the RSES and a general socio-demographic form containing personal and partner data.


RESULTS
Mean age of sample was 47.6+/-5.5 years, a 67.8% had less than 12 years of schooling and 33.6% were postmenopausal. At the moment of the survey 2.7% were on hormone therapy, and 2% were taking psychotropic drugs. Mean total RSES score was 26.6+/-3.1 (median 26, range 17-35). A 35.6% and 18.1% of women respectively presented total RSES scores below 26 (median) and 25 (25th percentile) suggesting lower self-esteem. Total scores did not differ when comparing older age, menopausal phases or time since the menopause. Logistic regression analysis determined that women with lower parity and an unhealthy partner were related to lower total RSES scores (below the 25th percentile) suggesting lower self-esteem.


CONCLUSIONS
In this mid-aged series lower self-esteem was not related to the aging process per se yet to socio-demographic female/male aspects. More research is needed in this regard that incorporates other sociological aspects.
Academic and Research Department, Hospital Gineco-Obstétrico Enrique C. Sotomayor, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Católica de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador. pchedraui@jbgye.org.ec
Peter
P
Chedraui
Faustino R
FR
Pérez-López
Marcela
M
Mendoza
María L
ML
Leimberg
María A
MA
Martinez
Varinia
V
Vallarino
Luis
L
Hidalgo
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors