Title
Association between depression and quality of lift among Pakistani adolescents and youth (15-24 years) with self-reported polycystic ovarian syndrome- A web-based analytical cross-sectional survey
Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (MSc Epidemiology & Biostats)
Department
Community Health Sciences
Abstract
Clinical-stigmata inherent in Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), including hormonal and aesthetic changes, can impair the quality of life of individuals, predominantly adolescents and youth who are most vulnerable to its impact. Depression could be one of the factors influencing the quality of life as there exists a possibility that depression might modulate how an individual perceives her symptoms, eventually affecting the quality of life. It is essential to determine the quality of life and its associated factors as it is a critical step towards identifying the adequate measures and interventions required to ensure the overall psychological, physical, and social well-being of patients with PCOS. Objectives: The study investigated the association between depression and quality of life in Pakistani adolescents and youth (15-24 years) with PCOS and also determined other factors influencing the quality of life. Methods: We conducted a web-based analytical-cross-sectional survey on 213 single Pakistani females aged 15-24 years who had self-reported PCOS. The study questionnaire was broadcasted on the internet via Google forms. The Google form link was made available to the target population via various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), WhatsApp messages, and SMS. Individuals with internet availability were able to access the questionnaire by clicking on the link. Depression and quality of life were assessed through the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression tool and polycystic ovarian syndrome quality of life scale. Multiple linear regression was the choice of analysis, and adjusted regression coefficients along with a 95% confidence interval were reported. Results: The mean age of participants in this study was 21.4+1.89 years. Majority of the participants were residents of Sindh(64.3%), belonged to middle-class backgrounds(72.7%), and had graduation/post-graduation as their highest level of education(69.0%). The mean overall quality of life score was 2.9+0.3. The most affected domains of quality of life were obesity/weight gain (2.5+0.1) and emotional health(2.9+0.4). The least distressing domain was hirsutism(3.2+0.1). 172 out of 213 (80.0%) participants were screened positive for depressive. symptoms. Depressed participants reported reduced mean overall quality of life scores compared to nondepressed counterparts (2.8+0.3 vs. 3.5+0.5, p
Recommended Citation
Peerwani, G. (2020). Association between depression and quality of lift among Pakistani adolescents and youth (15-24 years) with self-reported polycystic ovarian syndrome- A web-based analytical cross-sectional survey (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.