Relationship between personality characteristics and sleep quality in menopausal women referred to educational Gynecology clinics of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

ABSTRACT

Postmenopausal women suffer from sleep problems due to night sweats and serotonin deficiency caused by estrogen deficiency. Considering that the cause of different reactions to menopausal symptoms including sleep disturbances has not been recognized, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality characteristics and sleep quality in postmenopausal women. This correlational study was carried out on 400 postmenopausal women referred to gynecology clinics of university hospitals in Mashhad, Iran in 2012 who were selected conveniently. Study tools included NEO-FFI personality characteristics questionnaire [including 60 items] and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS software [version 16] using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. The mean age of menopausal women was 52.3 +/- 4.07 years. The mean score of menopausal age was 48.8 +/- 3.5 years and the duration of amenorrhea was 3.8 +/- 1.5 years. The highest and lowest score of personality characteristics was related to "openness to experience" and the "neuroticism", respectively. There was a direct correlation between extroversion and sleep quality [P=0.013]. Considering that extroverted women have a better quality of sleep, it is suggested that personality characteristics of women to be considered in the management protocols of sleep disturbances in post menopausal women