The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) on Healthy Lifestyle in Iranian Menopausal Women

Effect of health-promoting behaviors and menopausal symptoms of urban women of Hyderabad: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Menopause, characterized by cessation of menstruation, is accompanied by various physiological and psychological changes. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated the efficacy of a multi-domain lifestyle modification program in alleviating menopausal symptoms and promoting health behaviors among postmenopausal women residing in urban slums of Hyderabad, India.

METHODS

Eighty-two women aged 45-60 years experiencing menopausal symptoms were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned to either a 45-day lifestyle intervention group or a control group receiving standard care. The intervention program addressed six domains: health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. The menopause rating scale (MRS) and a modified health-promoting lifestyle II (HPBII) questionnaire assessed menopausal symptoms and health behaviors at baseline and during follow-up.

RESULTS

The intervention group showed significant improvements (P < 0.05) in terms of overall HPBII scores compared to baseline, with the most notable changes observed in health responsibility, nutrition, and stress management domains. In addition, MRS scores indicating menopausal symptoms were significantly lowered (P < 0.05) in the intervention group. No significant changes were found in the control group in either health behaviors or menopausal symptoms. After the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in HPBII scores compared to the control group, particularly in health responsibility, nutrition, interpersonal relationships, and stress management sub-domains.

CONCLUSION

This RCT suggested that a comprehensive lifestyle modification program could effectively improve health behaviors and alleviate menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women residing in under-resourced settings. Further research is warranted to explore the program's long-term sustainability and generalizability.

The mediating and moderating effect of health-promoting lifestyle on frailty and depressive symptoms for Chinese community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study aims to explore the mediating and moderating effect of health-promoting lifestyles on the relationship between frailty and depressive symptoms to provide a practical reference for effectively promoting the mental health of older adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of community-dwelling older adults (n = 3107) was conducted in three cities of Ningxia Province, China. Depressive symptoms, frailty, and health-promoting lifestyles were assessed through the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale, frailty scale, and health-promoting Lifestyle profile-II, respectively. The Bootstrap methods PROCESS program is employed to test the mediation and moderation model.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that health-promoting lifestyles are negatively related to depressive symptoms and frailty, while frailty is positively associated with depressive symptoms. Health-promoting lifestyles have mediated the relationship between frailty and depressive symptoms. Besides, the health-promoting lifestyles weakened the positive relationship between frailty and depression symptoms; there existed a moderating effect of health-promoting lifestyles on the relationship between frailty and depression symptoms among older adults.

LIMITATIONS

Given the cross-sectional study, it is impossible to make causal inferences.

CONCLUSIONS

A health-promoting lifestyle might be a protective factor for older adults' health in China. The mediating and moderating effect of a health-promoting lifestyle on the relationship between frailty and depression symptoms among older adults should be integrated to achieve maximum utility. Healthcare practitioners and medical service personnel are recommended to advance health education and publicity, encouraging healthy lifestyles among community-dwelling older adults with frailty to prevent depressive symptoms and promote healthy aging.

Effect of mindfulness on sexual self-efficacy and sexual satisfaction among Iranian postmenopausal women: a quasi-experimental study

Background

Menopause with anatomical, physiological, and psychological changes can affect sexual satisfaction and consequently the quality of life.

Aims

The study sought to evaluate the effects of mindfulness-based counseling on sexual self-efficacy and sexual satisfaction among Iranian postmenopausal women.

Methods

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 110 women who were assigned to an intervention group (n = 55) and a control group (n = 55). The intervention group received 8 sessions of mindfulness-based training and daily mindfulness exercises. Data collection tools included questionnaires of demographics and midwifery, sexual self-efficacy, and sexual satisfaction. They were completed before and 8 weeks after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed through a t test, a chi-square test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Outcomes

Changes in sexual self-efficacy and sexual satisfaction scores were evaluated.

Results

The mindfulness-based intervention significantly improved sexual self-efficacy (F = 146.98, P = .000, ^ƞ2 = 0.576) and sexual satisfaction (F = 129.47, P = .000, ^ƞ2 = 0.545) over time. The mean scores of sexual self-efficacy (17.03 ± 2.08) and sexual satisfaction (87.94 ± 8.26) in the intervention group increased after the intervention as opposed to the mean scores of sexual self-efficacy (12.65 ± 1.70) and sexual satisfaction (76.61 ± 6.45) in the control group.

Clinical Implications

Mindfulness training can improve sexual self-efficacy and sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women.

Strengths and Limitations

The intervention was implemented on a population of menopausal women in a culture in which the expression of sexual issues is taboo and has not been noticed in the past. The main limitation of this study was self-reporting, which may have affected the responses. The next limitation was the nonrandomized controlled design. Finally, the research sample included menopausal women who were heterosexual and married. Hence, the findings may not be generalizable to more diverse samples. In this study, psychological maladjustment or psychological distress was not analyzed. They should also be considered in future research.

Conclusion

According to the results, it is advisable to employ mindfulness-based intervention in routine care, because it can improve different aspects of menopausal women's life.

Health Promoting Lifestyle Behaviors and Sleep Quality Among Saudi Postmenopausal Women

Background

One of the most effective measures regarding improving women's health is to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health-promoting behaviors and sleep quality among a sample of Saudi menopausal women.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was used to collect data from 410 Saudi postmenopausal women visiting primary healthcare care centers located in Sakaka, Jouf, Saudi Arabia, using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results

The mean age of the study participants was 52.60 ± 4.65 years, the study findings highlighted that among all the HPLP domains, the highest mean score was observed for spiritual growth (24.00 ± 6.60) whereas the lowest score was observed for physical activity (16.18 ± 1.8). Statistically significant negative relations between the total score of HPLP and sleep quality score and menopausal symptoms (p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.005), respectively. Total scores of lifestyle, health responsibility, and stress management were significant differences between participants with good and poor sleep quality. Being overweight/obese, physically inactive, having a chronic illness and poor sleep quality were predictors influencing health-promoting behavior.

Conclusion

Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II was more obvious in the good sleeper in form of health responsibility and stress management. Being overweight and or obese, having a chronic illness, and having poor sleep quality were the significant factors influencing health-promoting behaviors. Designing and performing educational interventional plans are crucial to create motivation toward a healthy lifestyle and improve the quality of their sleep.