Csilla Csoboth

Comorbidity of pain problems and depressive symptoms in young women: results from a cross-sectional survey among women aged 15–24 in Hungary

Frequent headaches and musculoskeletal pain problems were assessed as part of a cross‐sectional health survey in a representative sample of 3615 young Hungarian women, aged 15–24 (mean age: 19.0 years). The representative sample was obtained by a multilevel stratified sampling procedure based on national statistical data, the refusal rate was 6%. Depressive symptomatology was assessed as well using the shortened form of the Beck Depression Inventory. The overall prevalence of frequent headaches was 43.8% in the sample, 25.8% of the investigated population reported chronic musculoskeletal pain problems. The co‐prevalence rate of depression was significantly higher in the group of interviewees reporting pain problems, 11.2% in the group indicating frequent headaches (χ2=53.1, p<0.001), 10.3% in the group reporting musculoskeletal pain problems (χ2=12.4, p<0.001). In contrast, the prevalence of depressive symptomatology was 4.6% and 6.6% in the subgroups denying frequent headaches and musculoskeletal pain, respectively. The prevalence of chronic pain problems decreased with higher age, increased with the smaller size of residence and was lower in the non‐student employment group, however, these differences across sociodemographic variables did not remain significant if tested by a multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Work-related stress factors and menstrual pain: a nation-wide representative survey

While imposing research has been conducted with respect to the biological determinants of painful menstruation, little is known about the psychosocial factors, including work-related stress that might influence menstrual pain. We conducted a study in which we aimed to determine besides the prevalence of dysmenorrhoea whether menstrual pain was associated with job control, co-worker social support, job security and dissatisfaction with the job. Data of 2772 working women aged 18–55 years, participants in the Hungarostudy 2002 nation-wide representative survey was analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between work stress factors and menstrual pain. Altogether 15.5% of women reported to experience menstrual pain that limits their daily activity. Low job control, low co-worker social support and low job security were found to be associated with a higher risk for menstrual pain even after controlling for the effect of age, educational attainment, parity status, smoking, body-mass index and treatment for gynecological problems. Job dissatisfaction was also related to dysmenorrhoea, albeit not significantly. The relationship between work-related psychosocial factors and painful menstruation deserves further investigation in order to determine the possible pathways of this association.

Psychosocial determinants of premature health deterioration in a changing society: the case of Hungary.

The drastic increase of morbidity and mortality rates in the transforming Central-Eastern European countries, characterizing the last decades, offers a unique opportunity to analyse the relationship of those social, psychological and biological processes that contribute to rapid health modifications. In 1988 and 1995, two national representative surveys of the Hungarian population aged 16 or older (N = 20,902 and 12,640 respectively) were conducted. The results show that depressive symptom severity mediates between relative socio-economic deprivation and higher self-rated morbidity rates. The worsening of traditional risk factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking, are also the consequences of social and psychological problems. A vicious circle might be hypothesized between social deprivation and depressive symptomatology, which substantially contributes to higher morbidity and mortality rates.

The Relationship of Biological and Psychological Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disorders in a Large-scale National Representative Community Survey

A large-scale national representative community survey of 11,122 persons aged more than 35 years included the investigation of the coincidence of depressive symptoms, vital exhaustion, cardiovascular disorders, stroke, and myocardial infarction. A total of 20.3% of the survey participants reported having experienced a cardiovascular disorder (CVD). Of the subjects reporting a CVD, 52.1% exhibited depressive symptoms (22.0% subthreshold depressive symptoms, 30.1% clinical depression), and 69.7% exhibited vital exhaustion. The authors investigated 3 cardiovascular subgroups: (1) subjects having experienced a myocardial infarction (MI), (2) subjects having experienced stroke, and (3) subjects with a CVD but no experience of either an MI or a stroke. The frequency and severity of depressive symptoms did not differ significantly in the 3 subgroups. CVD subjects with no MI or stroke had almost as high frequencies of depressive symptoms and vital exhaustion as patients who experienced stroke or MI. The strength of relationships between these psychological variables and CVDs do not differ significantly from the relationships between hypertension or diabetes and CVDs. Depressive symptoms and increased vital exhaustion have exceptionally high comorbidity with CVDs. The authors detected the same high comorbidity among patients with a milder CVD and without stroke or MI. The assessment and management of depressive symptoms and vital exhaustion should be routine procedure in clinical cardiology.

Physical and sexual abuse: risk factors for substance use among young Hungarian women.

Abstract The authors used a multistage stratified sampling method to conduct a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of 3,615 Hungarian women aged 15 to 24 years to acquire epidemiologic data on physical and sexual abuse and analyze the relationship between abuse and health-risk behaviors. Just over 30% of the young women reported having experienced some type of abuse in their lifetimes. All maladaptive coping strategies, especially sedative use, were more prevalent among those who had experienced physical abuse. The prevalence of smoking, drinking alcohol, and experimenting with drugs was closely related to both physical and sexual abuse. Having experienced abuse is an important factor in young womens development of risky health behaviors. Clinicians should screen for abuse in this age group to prevent behaviors that lead to long-term health problems.

Health of Ageing Women in Hungary

Although the concept of women’s health in Hungary has only emerged in the past decade, the study of women’s health and how it develops from youth to old age is important for many reasons. The political, social, and economic changes, which have occurred in the past fifteen years, have affected the lives of women, especially those of middle and old age, bringing changes in income, social roles, etc. (Kleiverda, Csoboth, Ceapchi, 1999). Joining the European Union, within which the life expectancy of women is on average five years more than of Hungarian women, it is of the greatest importance to increase both the physical and the mental state of health of women in Hungary. Hungarian women should not be at a disadvantage in terms of health, economic productivity, or social disposition, just because interventions did not specifically target their health needs and didn’t address the most important issues influencing their health.

Self-rated health and health damaging behaviour among young women in Hungary in connection with family background

Summary.Objectives: To describe the relationship of subjective health and harmful lifestyle with familial risk factors, such as low parental educational level, parental psychiatric disorder reported by their offspring, alcohol use, and divorce. Methods: 3615 hungarian women aged 15–24 in 1998. The questionnaire addressed socio-economic factors, physical and mental health, and health damaging behaviours. Results: Low self-rated health (OR: 2.32; CI: 1.54–3.47; p < 0.001) or at least five health complaints (OR: 2.09; CI: 1.68–2.60; p < 0.001) were significantly more common among women with reported parental psychiatric disorder. Drug use (OR: 2.35; CI: 1.86–2.98; p < 0.001) and regular or excessive alcohol consumption (OR: 1.86; CI: 1.46–2.37) was in strongest association with parental high education. Conclusions: Family related social problems, especially reported parental psychiatric disorders, regular alcohol consumption, and educational level, are important factors to be taken into account when planning specific interventions for young women.Zusammenfassung.Selbst-berichtete Gesundheit und gesundheitsschädigendes Verhalten von jungen Frauen in Ungarn: der Einfluss der FamilieFragestellung: Der Zusammenhang zwischen niedriger elterlicher Bildung, elterlicher psychischer Störung, Alkoholkonsum und Scheidung, und selbst-berichtete Gesundheit und gesundheitsschädigendes Verhalten wird beschrieben. Methoden: 3615 ungarische junge Frauen im Alter von 15–24 wurden 1998 mittels Fragebogen befragt. Der Fragebogen enthält Fragen über sozioökonomische Faktoren, physische und psychologische Gesundheit und gesundheitsschädigendes Verhalten. Ergebnisse: Niedrige selbst-berichtete Gesundheit (OR: 2,32; CI: 1,54–3,47; p < 0,001) und fünf oder mehr Gesundheitsbeschwerden (OR: 2,09; CI: 1,68–2,60; p < 0,001) waren signifikant häufiger bei Frauen mit elterlicher psychischer Störung. Drogenmissbrauch (OR: 2,35; CI: 1,86–2,98; p < 0,001) und ständiger oder exzessiver Alkoholkonsum (OR: 1,86; CI: 1,46–2,37) hängen am stärksten mit elterlicher Bildung zusammen. Schlussfolgerungen: Familiäre soziale Probleme, hauptsächlich psychische Störungen der Eltern, ständiger Alkoholkonsum und die Bildung der Eltern sind wichtige Faktoren, die berücksichtigt werden müssen, vor allem wenn Interventionen für junge Frauen speziell geplant werden.Résumé.État de santé et comportements dommageables pour la santé chez les jeunes femmes en Hongrie: effets des caractéristiques parentalesObjectifs: Décrire les associations entre la santé subjective, les modes de vie négatifs et des facteurs de risques familiaux (bas niveau d’éducation, maladies psychiatriques, consommation abusive d’alcool, divorce). Méthodes: 3615 jeunes femmes hongroises (15–24 ans) en 1998. Le questionnaire comportait des questions concernant les aspects socio-économiques, la santé physique et mentale, et les comportements dommageables à la santé. Résultats: Les femmes ayant un parent atteint de trouble psychiatrique ont rapporté une santé significativement moins bonne (OR: 2,32; CI: 1,54–3,47; p < 0,001) ou au moins cinq plaintes concernant leur santé (OR: 2,09; CI: 1,68–2,60; p < 0,001). La consommation de drogue (OR: 2,35; CI: 1,86–2,98; p < 0,001) et la consommation normale ou excessive d’alcool (OR: 1,86; CI: 1,46–2,37) sont très étroitement associées avec un niveau d’éducation parental élevé. Conclusions: Lors de la planification d’interventions spécifiquement destinées aux jeunes femmes, il importe de tenir compte des problèmes sociaux des parents: troubles psychiatriques, consommation d’alcool régulière, niveau d’éducation.