Lavender Aromatherapy and Sleep Quality among Perimenopausal Women in a Primary Health Care Setting in South Jakarta
Main Article Content
Puji Hastutiningsih
Putri Azzahroh
Rukmaini
Sleep disturbances are common among perimenopausal women due to hormonal fluctuations and psychosocial changes, which may negatively affect physical health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. Non-pharmacological interventions are increasingly recommended in primary health care settings to manage sleep problems safely and effectively. This study aimed to examine the relationship between lavender aromatherapy and sleep quality among perimenopausal women in a primary health care setting. A quasi-experimental study with a pretest–posttest control group design was conducted involving 60 perimenopausal women aged 45–55 years who were divided into an intervention group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The intervention group received lavender aromatherapy via inhalation using a diffuser for 30 minutes before bedtime over seven consecutive days, while the control group received no aromatherapy intervention. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and the Mann–Whitney U Test. The results showed a significant improvement in sleep quality in the intervention group, with the mean PSQI score decreasing from 12.00 (SD = 1.89) to 6.23 (SD = 2.73) (p < 0.001), whereas no significant change was observed in the control group (p = 0.349). Posttest comparison revealed a significant difference in sleep quality between the intervention and control groups (p < 0.001). In conclusion, lavender aromatherapy is associated with improved sleep quality among perimenopausal women and may serve as an effective complementary intervention in primary health care settings.
World Health Organization. Research on the menopause in the 1990s. WHO Technical Report Series No. 866. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1996.
Baker FC, de Zambotti M, Colrain IM, Bei B. Sleep problems during the menopausal transition: prevalence, impact, and management challenges. Nat Sci Sleep. 2018;10:73–95.
Kravitz HM, Joffe H. Sleep during the perimenopause: a SWAN story. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(3):567–86.
Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Lin H, Gracia CR. Duration of menopausal hot flushes and associated risk factors. Obstet Gynecol. 2011;117(5):1095–104.
Cho MY, Min ES, Hur MH, Lee MS. Effects of aromatherapy on anxiety, vital signs, and sleep quality of perimenopausal women. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2013;43(4):534–42.
Shattell M, Anderson K. Complementary therapies for sleep problems in women. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2016;54(4):21–8.
Lillehei AS, Halcon LL. A systematic review of the effect of inhaled essential oils on sleep. J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20(6):441–51.
Koulivand PH, Ghadiri MK, Gorji A. Lavender and the nervous system. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:681304.
Javadi M, Sajjadi M, Mohammadi R. Effect of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil on sleep quality of menopausal women. J Nurs Midwifery Sci. 2017;4(4):151–6.
Herz RS. The role of odor-evoked memory in psychological and physiological health. Brain Sci. 2016;6(3):22.
Chen ML, Lin LC, Wu SC, Chang SC. The effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy in improving sleep quality of women with insomnia. J Nurs Res. 2015;23(4):263–72.
Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989;28(2):193–213.
Hwang JH, Shin HS. The effects of lavender oil inhalation on sleep and depression in the elderly. Complement Ther Med. 2015;23(2):188–93.
National Sleep Foundation. Sleep and women: unique challenges and considerations. Sleep Health. 2017;3(1):1–2.
