title: Factors associated with general and health-related quality of life in menopausal transition among women from Serbia.
abstract: This study assessed factors associated with quality of life (QOL) among Serbian peri- and postmenopausal women using two menopause-specific scales. This cross-sectional study included 500 women aged 40-65 years who had a gynecologic check-up in one of two Community Health Centers in Belgrade during February 2014 to January 2015. Women completed: a questionnaire about socio-demographics, habits, and health status; a menopause-specific questionnaire, Utian's Quality of Life Scale (UQOL); and a Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). Higher education was associated with better occupational UQOL and memory/concentration, but with lower emotional UQOL and more anxiety/fears. City center residency was associated with better occupational and sexual UQOL. Being employed was associated with better occupational UQOL and lower anxiety/fears. Higher income was associated with better emotional UQOL. Not having uterine prolapse, insomnia, or tachycardia was associated with better occupational UQOL and fewer sleep problems. Higher parity was associated with better sexual UQOL. Having regular recreation was associated with better health and sexual UQOL but with more frequent vasomotor symptoms. Leaner women felt more attractive. QOL during the menopausal transition does not entail only somatic symptoms and therefore requires a more comprehensive approach that includes psychosocial underpinnings.
authors.affiliation: a Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology , Clinical Center of Serbia , Belgrade , Serbia.|b Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dotlic
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Ilma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurtagic
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Selmina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nurkovic
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Nikolina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kovacevic
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radovanovic
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rancic
authors.affiliation: a Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology , Clinical Center of Serbia , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Branislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milosevic
authors.affiliation: a Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology , Clinical Center of Serbia , Belgrade , Serbia.|b Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terzic
authors.affiliation: c Institute for Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gazibara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D055771:Serbia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Menopause; Serbia; quality of life; women’s health