the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and their association with vitamin d and estrogen levels in postmenopausal women in semnan

Background: depression, stress, and anxiety are of the most prevalent psychological disorders among postmenopausal women. inadequate evidence is available on the association between vitamin d and estrogen with depression, anxiety, and stress in this group. objectives: the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and their association with vitamin d and estrogen levels in postmenopausal women in semnan. methods: the present analytical cross-sectional study was carried out using multistage sampling among women aged 45 to 70 years in semnan (iran) in summer 2016. data collection tools were the demographic questionnaire, spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory, the beck depression inventory, and the perceived stress scale. in addition, the levels of blood vitamindand estrogen were measured. results: in 120 postmenopausal women, depression levels were mild (22.5%), moderate (13.3%), and severe (1.7%); anxiety levels were mild (46.7%), moderate (50.8%), and severe (2.5%); additionally, 79.2% had lower stress and 20.8% had greater stress. negative and significant correlations were found between vitamin d and depression (r = -0.1982, p = 0.031), anxiety (r = -0.3636, p < 0.001) and stress (r = -0.2884, p = 0.001). however, there was no correlation between estrogen and depression (r = -0.130, p = 0.159), anxiety (r = -0.105, p = 0.254), and stress (r = -0.104, p = 0.262). no significant correlation was seen between estrogen and vitamin d (r = -0.070, p = 0.450). conclusions: in postmenopausal women, no significant relationship was observed between estrogen and depression, anxiety, and perceived stress; however, there was a significant relationship between vitamin d and depression, anxiety, and stress.