A Study On Prevalence Of Depression And Associated Factors Among Perimenopausal Women In Chengalpattu

Abstract

Background: Perimenopause, marked by erratic hormonal fluctuations, heightens the risk of depression due to disruptions in neurotransmitter systems and compounded psychosocial stressors. Globally, studies report elevated depressive symptoms during this transition, yet in India, cultural stigma, patriarchal norms, and scarce mental health infrastructure obscure the true burden, necessitating localized research to guide targeted interventions.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression and identify associated socio-demographic and clinical risk factors among perimenopausal women in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.

Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 400 women aged 40–55 years from urban and rural Chengalpattu. Depression was evaluated using the Menopause Rating Scale for Depression (MENO-D), and stress levels with the Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4). Structured interviews gathered socio-demographic and reproductive data. Chi-square tests assessed associations, and binary logistic regression identified predictors, with p<0.05 indicating significance.

Results: Depression affected 43.8% of participants, with 7.5% requiring psychiatric referral. Moderate to high stress was reported by 71.6%. Significant predictors included age 50–55 years (OR 4.33, 95% CI 2.37–7.92), illiteracy (OR 3.88), postgraduate education (OR 2.86), homemaker status (OR 2.41), retired status (OR 7.20), early menarche at 12 years (OR 13.33), and perimenopause onset after 50 years (OR 2.31). Irregular cycles were protective (OR 0.44). Stress and depression scores showed a strong correlation (r=0.991, p<0.001). Common symptoms included irritability (15%) and fatigue (14.8%).

Conclusion: The high prevalence of perimenopausal depression demands routine MENO-D and PSS-4 screening in gynecologic practice. Culturally tailored interventions are critical to mitigate this multifaceted challenge.