Does polycystic ovary syndrome affect self-confidence and happiness?

Erener, Nurseli Soylu; Turhan, İpek; Bayraktar, Evrim

doi:10.1590/1806-9282.20251064

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Original Article • Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras. 71 (12) • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.20251064 linkcopy

Does polycystic ovary syndrome affect self-confidence and happiness?

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between quality of life and self-confidence in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, a chronic endocrine disorder that affects both physical and psychological well-being.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. Data were collected using the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life-50 Scale (PCOSQ-50) and the Female Self-Confidence Scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between quality of life and self-confidence levels.

RESULTS: The findings indicated that sociodemographic and gynecologic characteristics did not significantly affect the quality of life or self-confidence levels of the participants. However, a significant positive correlation was observed between polycystic ovary syndrome-related quality of life and self-confidence (p>0.05). Women with lower quality of life scores reported significantly lower levels of self-confidence. Psychological distress, body image dissatisfaction, and infertility concerns were found to be key contributing factors to decreased self-confidence.

CONCLUSION: Polycystic ovary syndrome negatively impacts women's psychological well-being and self-confidence, in addition to its physical symptoms. Integrating psychological support into polycystic ovary syndrome treatment may help to improve quality of life and promote emotional resilience. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for comprehensive care of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

KEYWORDS:
Polycystic ovary syndrome; Quality of life; Happiness

Features		N	%
Age
	Under 25	94	46.3
	25–30 years	75	36.9
	Over 31 years	34	16.7
PCOS diagnosis period
	1–4 years	93	45.8
	5–9 years	48	23.6
	10 years and over	62	30.5
Education status
	High school and below	30	14.8
	University/master's degree	173	85.2
Employment status
	No	33	16.3
	Yes	170	83.7
Income status
	Good	46	22.7
	Middle	142	70.0
	Bad	15	7.4
Place of residence
	Province	153	75.4
	District/town/village	50	24.6
Marital status
	Married	92	45.3
	Single	111	54.7
Sexual partner
	There is	108	53.2
	No	95	46.8
Pregnancy experience
	No	169	83.3
	There is	34	16.7
Birth experience
	No	181	89.2
	There is	22	10.8
Living child
	No	181	89.2
	There is	22	10.8
Abortion experience
	No	194	95.6
	There is	9	4.4
Low experience
	No	186	91.6
	There is	17	8.4
Total		203	100.0

Features		n (%)	PCOSQ-50 Scale		Female Self-Confidence Scale
Features		n (%)	$\bar{x}$ ± SD	Test	$\bar{x}$ ± SD	Test
Age
	Under 25	94 (46.3%)	131.89±34.96	1.019 0.363	135.54±22.97	0.395 0.674
	25–30 years	75 (36.9%)	139.91±40.08		138.53±27.90
	Over 31 years	34 (16.7%)	138.29±39.95		138.68±18.36
PCOS diagnosis period
	1–4 years	93 (45.8%)	140.60±39.17	2.574 0.079	138.38±23.92	1.717 0.182
	5–9 years	48 (23.6%)	125.58±34.15		131.63±25.24
	10 years and over	62 (30.5%)	136.92±37.32		139.66±23.51
Education status
	High school and below	30 (14.8%)	139.57±37.69	0.571 0.569	133.40±27.39	-0.925 0.356
	University/master's degree	173 (85.2%)	135.29±37.85	0.571 0.569	137.83±23.63	-0.925 0.356
Sexual partner
	There is	108 (53.2%)	140.01±40.93	1.649 0.101	138.27±25.46	0.687 0.493
	No	95 (46.8%)	131.28±33.43	1.649 0.101	135.93±22.75	0.687 0.493
Pregnancy experience
	No	169 (83.3%)	135.49±35.73	-0.370 0.712	137.24±24.07	0.084 0.933
	There is	34 (16.7%)	138.12±47.16	-0.370 0.712	136.85±25.21	0.084 0.933
Birth experience
	No	181 (89.2%)	134.05±36.20	-1.669 0.108	136.42±24.48	-1.273 0.205
	There is	22 (10.8%)	151.36±47.01	-1.669 0.108	143.36±21.23	-1.273 0.205
Living child
	No	181 (89.2%)	134.05±36.20	-1.669 0.108	136.42±24.48	-1.273 0.205
	There is	22 (10.8%)	151.36±47.01	-1.669 0.108	143.36±21.23	-1.273 0.205

Variables		B	Sth. error	B	T	p
(Fixed)		92.578	5.475		16.908	0.000
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Scale score		0.328	0.039	0.512	8.452	0.000
Dependent variable: Female Self-Confidence Scale score
	R: 0.512	R²: 0.262	F: 71.432	p: 0.000	Durbin-Watson: 2.024

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[TFN1] PCOS: polycystic ovary syndrome.