title: Quality of life and social determinants of anxiolytics and hypnotics use in women in Poland: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The majority of studies show a substantially higher consumption of anxiolytics and antidepressants among women than among men and in the age bracket above 45 years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse association between the use of hypnotics/anxiolytics, and various characteristics of Polish women, including health-related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand, five hundred and sixty (1,560) women aged 45-60 years completed a questionnaire dealing with the use of hypnotics/anxiolytics, demographic characteristics, environmental and work stress exposure, and self-reported quality of life (SF-36 form).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following variables were revealed as the predictors of hypnotic/anxiolytic use on univariate analysis: age; social pension; stress at work and environmental stress; hormone replacement therapy; headache; palpitations; mood swings or increased muscular tension; anger; duration of symptoms longer than one week; consulting a specialist; and low physical and mental health-related quality of life. The significant protective factors included: vocational and tertiary education; job satisfaction; and home as place of rest. The independent predictors of anxiolytic/hypnotic use included consulting a specialist and symptoms lasting more than one week, while job satisfaction and home as place of rest were the independent protective factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of hypnotic/anxiolytic medication is strongly associated with environmental and psychosocial characteristics of women between 40 and 65 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University, Gdansk, Poland. pzagoz@gumed.edu.pl
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zagozdzon
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kolarzyk
authors.forename: Jerzy T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Marcinkowski
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives