title: Physical activity and menopause-related quality of life - a population-based cross-sectional study.
abstract: The aim of the research was to study the association between engagement in the recommended level of physical activity and quality of life (QoL) among middle-aged women. In total, 2606 Finnish women aged 49 years responded to a postal questionnaire on lifestyle, quality of life, and health, wherein QoL was assessed with a shorter version of the menopause-specific Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ). Proportional odds ratios (PORs) from ordered logistic regression models were used to test the association between the physical-activity and WHQ domains or three quality-of-life variables. Physically inactive women had an increased probability of anxiety/depressed mood (POR 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-1.65), of decreased well-being (POR 1.96; 95% CI 1.71-2.25), of somatic symptoms (POR 1.61; 95% CI 1.40-1.85), of memory/concentration problems (POR 1.48; 95% CI 1.29-1.70), and of vasomotor symptoms (POR 1.19; 95% CI 1.03-1.36) as compared to physically active women. Women with the recommended level of physical activity had a higher self-perceived health level, better relative health, and better global quality of life in relation to other women their age. Physically active women showed higher quality of life in four menopause-specific WHQ dimensions and in global quality of life when compared to inactive women.
authors.affiliation: UKK Institute for Health Promotion, Tampere, Finland; University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: kirsi.mansikkamaki@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mansikkamäki
authors.affiliation: UKK Institute for Health Promotion, Tampere, Finland; School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Jani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raitanen
authors.affiliation: Finnish Cancer Registry, Finland.
authors.forename: Nea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malila
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tytti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sarkeala
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Männistö
authors.affiliation: Finnish Cancer Registry, Finland.
authors.forename: Jonna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fredman
authors.affiliation: Finnish Cancer Registry, Finland.
authors.forename: Sirpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinävaara
authors.affiliation: UKK Institute for Health Promotion, Tampere, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luoto
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Menopausal women; Physical activity; Quality of life