Archives of Mental Health (Jan 2017)
A comparative study of andropause individuals and normal controls on stress, anxiety, depression and quality of life
Abstract
Background: Recent advances in medicine and public health care have made illnesses less fatal. This combined with better standards of living, has resulted in substantial increases in the population of older people in India. The life expectancy of an Indian male in 1950 was just 40 years. Today, it is 63 years and by 2025 it is expected to go up to 84 years. As a method of scientific enquiry, the natural sciences do not provide answers to questions such as “why do we age?” All systems of human body are subjected to aging changes. But the rate of ageing differs among the system. The pattern of ageing in reproductive system differs between the sexes. Unlike in female reproductive system where the changes are abrupt, there is a gradual change in reproductive system of ageing male. Aims: This study was designed to assess the levels of stress, anxiety, depression and quality of life among andropause individuals and normal controls. Methodology: The sample consisted of 30 andropause individual and 30 normal controls. The two groups matched for age, socio economic status, occupation and educations were administered AMS, PSS, BAI, BDI, and WHO-QOL (brief). Results: The results shows there is a significant difference between andropause individuals and normal controls in AMS, PSS, BAI, BDI, and WHO QOL (brief). As the physical symptoms of andropause, symptoms are increases, the individual become more anxious and depressed. Conclusion: And it can be concluded that psychological factors play a major role in the exacerbation of symptoms of andropause and affecting their quality of life.
