PCOS Symptoms and Quality of Life: Links to Anxiety and Self-Esteem Among Women with PCOS in Slovakia

This study examines the relationship between quality of life, self-esteem, and anxiety in Slovak women of reproductive age diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The research was carried out with a non-experimental correlation survey design, and the data was obtained using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (PCOSQ). The research sample consisted of 244 women aged from 18 to 52 years with a confirmed PCOS diagnosis. The results revealed that lower health-related quality of life scores among women with PCOS were associated with lower self-esteem and higher levels of anxiety. Furthermore, higher general quality of life in the domains of Physical health, Psychological Health, Social relationships, and Environment were associated with higher self-esteem and lower anxiety among women with PCOS. The results also show the effect of emotional problems as a symptom of PCOS for anxiety, self-esteem, and general quality of life, especially in the areas of physical and psychological health. New insights in this area may contribute to the improvement of women’s awareness of PCOS and its consequences and emphasise the need for support of both physical and mental health.