Psychological Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Rivers State
Keywords:
Psychological predictors, Health-Related Quality of Life, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Women, Rivers State/Nigeria
Abstract
The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has significant implications on women's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). While the physical aspects of PCOS on HRQoL have been widely studied, studies linking psychological predictors of HRQoL among women with PCOS in Rivers State have received little investigation. Therefore, this study examines the predictive ability of psychological distress, anxiety, depression and stress on HRQoL among women diagnosed with PCOS in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study adopted cross-sectional survey design while purposive sampling technique was used to select the study population. Data were conveniently collected from 206 participants using validated scales and analyzed using multiple regression analysis to test five hypotheses which were accepted at p <.001 of significance. The results show that psychological distress, anxiety, depression and stress jointly predicted HRQoL among women diagnosed with PCOS (R2 = .777, F(4, 202) = 174.780, p<.001). Furthermore, psychological distress, R2= .748, F(1,204) = 605.644, p <.001; depression, R2 = .461, F(1,204) =174.289, p <.001; anxiety, R2 = .507, F(1,204) = 210.133, p <.001, and stress, R2 = .551, F(1,204) = 250.086, p<.001 independently predicted HRQoL among study participants. The study comes as the first among this population and sample. The study recommends government agencies, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to combine gynecological, psychological and lifestyle management strategies to support women diagnosed with PCOS in order to improve their HRQoL.
References
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Asdaq, S. M. B., & Yasmin, F. (2020). Risk of psychological burden in polycystic ovary syndrome: A case control study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Journal of affective disorders, 274, 205–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.086
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Beck, A.T., Epstein, N. ,Brown, G., & Steer, R.A.(1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometrics properties. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology,56, 893-897
Begum, R.F., Vellapandian, C., & Mohan, S.(2024). Examining symptoms and quality of life in polycystic ovary syndrome: a web-based cross-sectional study. Future Science OA, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20565623.2024.2430878
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Cohen, S., & Williamson, G. (1988). Perceived stress in a probability sample of the United States. In S. Spacapan & S. Oskamp (Eds.), The social psychology of health: Claremont Symposium on applied social psychology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage
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Dybciak, P., Raczkiewicz, D., Humeniuk, E., Powrózek, T., Gujski, M., Małecka-Massalska, T., Wdowiak, A., & Bojar, I. (2023). Depression in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(20), 6446. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12206446
Elstar, R.S. Abd., Hafez, S.K.M., Mohammed, G.A.G., & Zaied, N.F.F.(2024). The relationship between psychological distress and health-related quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. ASNJ, 26(3), 398-409.
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Hofmann, K., Decrinis, C., Bitterlich, N., Bachmann, A., &Stute, P.(2025). Health-related quality of life and mental state in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and migration or minority background- A cross-sectional study. Journal of Migration & Health,11, 100313 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmh.2025.100313
Ibrahim, A.A., Ghoneim, H.M., Elsaid, N.M. A. B.,& Shalaby, N.S.(2023). Effectiveness of lifestyle modification on health-related quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Iran Journal of Nursing & Midwifery Research, 21(280, 286-292 https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr 380 21
Kessler, R.C., Barker, P.R., Colpe, L.J., Epstein, J.P., Gfroerer, J.C., Hiripi, E., et al. (2003). Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(2),184-189.
Makwe, C.C., Olamijulo, J.A., Balogun, M. R., Akinkugbe, A. O., Udenze, K., Samuel, A., Bril, F., Buyalos, R.P., Laven, J.S.E., Azziz, R.(2023). The prevalence and Phenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a community-based population in sub-Saharan Africa: The Nigeria-PEP study. Journal of the Endocrine Society, bvad114.1668 https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvad114
Salari, N., Nankali, A., Ghanbari, A., Jafarpour, S., Ghasemi, H., Dokaneheifard, S., & Mohammadi, M.(2024). Global prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women worldwide: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 310(3), 1303-1314 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-024-07607-x
Sidra ,S., Tariq, M.H., Farrukh, M.J, Mohsin, M.(2019). Evaluation of clinical manifestations, health risks, and quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. PLoS ONE 14(10): e0223329. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223329
Sitlinger, A. & Zafar, S.Y.(2018). Health-related quality of life :The impact on morbidity and mortality. Surgical Oncology Clinical Nursing America, 27, 675-684 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soc.2018.05.008
Tanogan, O., Ak, E.Y., Ademir, Oskay, U.,& Callioglu, N.( 2024).Effect of polycystic ovary syndrome on the life quality of young women. Review Association Medical Bras.70(4).: e20231368 https://dol.org/10.1590/1806-9282.20231368
Ukandu, L.O. Uye, E. E., Roberts, E. R., & Olapegba, P. O. (2023). Influence of perceived COVID-19 vulnerability and death anxiety on perceived quality of life among frontline media workers in South-west Nigeria. African Journal of Sociological & Psychological Studies, 3 (1), 5-21. https://doi.org/10.31920/2752-6585/2023/v3n1a1
Williams, S., Sheffield, D. & Knibb, R.C.(2018). The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life scale (PCOSQOL): Development and preliminary validation. Health Psychology Open, 5(2), 1-8 https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102918788195
Yang, Y., Liu, L., Hu, N., Huo, H., Yang, X. & Wang, F.(2025). Analysis of risk factors for depression and anxiety in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Frontiers of Global Women’s Health, 6:1520641. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1520641
Zangeneh, F.Z., Jafarabadi, M., Naghizadeh, M.M., Abedinia, N., & Haghollahi, F.(2012). Psychological distress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome from Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. Journal of Reproductive Infertility,13(2), 111-115.
Almeshari, W.,Alsubaie, A.K., Alanazi, R.I., Almalki, Y.A., Masud, N.,& Mahmoud, S.H.(2021). Depressive and anxiety syndrome in adults with polycystic ovary syndrome. Depression Research & Treatment, 17: 665133 https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6652133
Altaf, K., Mehreen, ., Khatoon, B., & Tariq, M.(2023). Role of stress in onset of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Journal of Health & Rehabilitation Research, 3(2), 1122-1127 https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v3i2.276
Asdaq, S. M. B., & Yasmin, F. (2020). Risk of psychological burden in polycystic ovary syndrome: A case control study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Journal of affective disorders, 274, 205–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.086
Beck, A. T., Steer, R.A., & Garbin, M.G. (1988) Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory: Twenty-five years of evaluation. Clinical Psychology Review, 8(1), 77-100.
Beck, A.T., Epstein, N. ,Brown, G., & Steer, R.A.(1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometrics properties. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology,56, 893-897
Begum, R.F., Vellapandian, C., & Mohan, S.(2024). Examining symptoms and quality of life in polycystic ovary syndrome: a web-based cross-sectional study. Future Science OA, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20565623.2024.2430878
Borghi, L., Leone, D., Vegni, E., Galiano, V.,Corina, L., Sulpizio, P., & Garzia, E.(2017). Psychological distress, anxiety and quality of life in polycystic ovary syndrome: associations with biochemical, phenotypical and socio-demographic factors. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 39(2), 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2017.1311319
Cohen, S., & Williamson, G. (1988). Perceived stress in a probability sample of the United States. In S. Spacapan & S. Oskamp (Eds.), The social psychology of health: Claremont Symposium on applied social psychology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage
Devi, D.A., Manogna, G., Divya, K., Bhagyasri, T., Sumakanth, M., & Kumari, S.(2025). Quality of Life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): An observational study at a tertiary care hospital in India. Asian Research Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 8(1), 287-294 https://doi.org/10.9734/arjgo/2025/v8i1278
Dybciak, P., Raczkiewicz, D., Humeniuk, E., Powrózek, T., Gujski, M., Małecka-Massalska, T., Wdowiak, A., & Bojar, I. (2023). Depression in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(20), 6446. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12206446
Elstar, R.S. Abd., Hafez, S.K.M., Mohammed, G.A.G., & Zaied, N.F.F.(2024). The relationship between psychological distress and health-related quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. ASNJ, 26(3), 398-409.
Fakrogha, B.E., Olapegba, P.O. & Uye, E.E. (2025). Anxiety and depression as predictors of quality of life among university undergraduates Jurnal TRILOGI, 6(1), https://doi.org/10.33650/trilogi.v6i1.10799
Gorna, M., Camarova, N., Rojkova, Z., & Slebodova, P.(2025). PCOS Symptoms and quality of life : Links to anxiety and self-esteem among women with PCOS in Slovakia . Women, 5(3), 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/women5030035
Gül, O., Aku, M., & Akku, F.(2025). Depression, anxiety, and stress in polycystic ovary syndrome: understanding the impact of adult separation anxiety and uncertainty intolerance BMC Women's Health (2025) 25:377 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03930-w
Hofmann, K., Decrinis, C., Bitterlich, N., Bachmann, A., &Stute, P.(2025). Health-related quality of life and mental state in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and migration or minority background- A cross-sectional study. Journal of Migration & Health,11, 100313 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmh.2025.100313
Ibrahim, A.A., Ghoneim, H.M., Elsaid, N.M. A. B.,& Shalaby, N.S.(2023). Effectiveness of lifestyle modification on health-related quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Iran Journal of Nursing & Midwifery Research, 21(280, 286-292 https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr 380 21
Kessler, R.C., Barker, P.R., Colpe, L.J., Epstein, J.P., Gfroerer, J.C., Hiripi, E., et al. (2003). Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(2),184-189.
Makwe, C.C., Olamijulo, J.A., Balogun, M. R., Akinkugbe, A. O., Udenze, K., Samuel, A., Bril, F., Buyalos, R.P., Laven, J.S.E., Azziz, R.(2023). The prevalence and Phenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a community-based population in sub-Saharan Africa: The Nigeria-PEP study. Journal of the Endocrine Society, bvad114.1668 https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvad114
Salari, N., Nankali, A., Ghanbari, A., Jafarpour, S., Ghasemi, H., Dokaneheifard, S., & Mohammadi, M.(2024). Global prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women worldwide: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 310(3), 1303-1314 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-024-07607-x
Sidra ,S., Tariq, M.H., Farrukh, M.J, Mohsin, M.(2019). Evaluation of clinical manifestations, health risks, and quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. PLoS ONE 14(10): e0223329. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223329
Sitlinger, A. & Zafar, S.Y.(2018). Health-related quality of life :The impact on morbidity and mortality. Surgical Oncology Clinical Nursing America, 27, 675-684 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soc.2018.05.008
Tanogan, O., Ak, E.Y., Ademir, Oskay, U.,& Callioglu, N.( 2024).Effect of polycystic ovary syndrome on the life quality of young women. Review Association Medical Bras.70(4).: e20231368 https://dol.org/10.1590/1806-9282.20231368
Ukandu, L.O. Uye, E. E., Roberts, E. R., & Olapegba, P. O. (2023). Influence of perceived COVID-19 vulnerability and death anxiety on perceived quality of life among frontline media workers in South-west Nigeria. African Journal of Sociological & Psychological Studies, 3 (1), 5-21. https://doi.org/10.31920/2752-6585/2023/v3n1a1
Williams, S., Sheffield, D. & Knibb, R.C.(2018). The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life scale (PCOSQOL): Development and preliminary validation. Health Psychology Open, 5(2), 1-8 https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102918788195
Yang, Y., Liu, L., Hu, N., Huo, H., Yang, X. & Wang, F.(2025). Analysis of risk factors for depression and anxiety in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Frontiers of Global Women’s Health, 6:1520641. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1520641
Zangeneh, F.Z., Jafarabadi, M., Naghizadeh, M.M., Abedinia, N., & Haghollahi, F.(2012). Psychological distress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome from Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. Journal of Reproductive Infertility,13(2), 111-115.
Published
2025-12-20
How to Cite
Enyelunekpo R. Roberts, Keyna C. George, Esther James, & Emmanuel E. Uye. (2025). Psychological Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Rivers State. International Journal of Business and Quality Research, 4(01), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijbqr.v4i01.2717
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