title: Predictors of stress and depressive mood in Portuguese middle-aged women.
abstract: This cross-sectional study investigates the predictors of psychological symptoms-stress and depressive mood-in a sample of middle-aged women. A community sample of 1,003 women filled in the questionnaires and instruments, which included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales and the Life Events Survey; sociodemographic, health, and menopause-related and lifestyle information was also collected. Structural equation modeling was used to build the model that had stress and depressive mood as dependent variables. Health status (both physical and psychological), recent life events, income and menopausal phase were significantly associated with the frequency of stress and depressive symptoms. Additionally, educational level and parity were also significant predictors of depressive mood. This study emphasizes that psychological symptoms occurrence in midlife depends not only on personal variables (such as health and menopausal status) but also on contextual ones (including recent stressful events) that can be a strong influence on how middle-aged women feel.
authors.affiliation: a William James Research Center , Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (ISPA)-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.affiliation: a William James Research Center , Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (ISPA)-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maroco
authors.affiliation: b Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (ISPA)-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leitão
authors.affiliation: a William James Research Center , Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (ISPA)-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leal
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008019:Life Style; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010298:Parity; D011174:Portugal; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Depressive mood; middle-aged women; stress; structural equation modelling