Self-concept and menopause among mid-life women: a survey in southern Taiwan

Symptomatology and quality of life between two populations of climacteric women

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to compare climacteric symptomatology and sociodemographic conditions and their effect on quality of life in two populations: Monterrey (Mexico) and Madrid (Spain).

METHODS

469 women from Monterrey (mean age 50.5 + 4.3 years) and 452 (mean age 51.7 + 3.7 years) from Madrid participated in the study. Descriptive analyses of sociodemographic and clinics characteristics of the sample were performed. A cross-sectional design and a regression analysis were performed to establish the sociodemographic and clinical variables that would be used as predictors of quality of life. Data was collected using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life, MENQOL, the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Quality of Life Scale for Women Aged From 45 to 64 (QLS), and a sociodemographic and clinical interview designed ad hoc.

RESULTS

Approximately 60% of both Spanish and Mexican women present symptoms during climacteric that impairs their quality of life. Spanish women suffer more intense symptoms and for a longer period of time than Mexican women, with the exception of anxiety. Mexican women report better quality of life than Spanish women and it is moderated by educational, socioeconomical, and marital status. Women's knowledge about menopause is also related to a better quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms the differences in climacteric symptomatology between populations and the impact of educational level and knowledge about menopause as predictors of a better quality of life in climacteric women.

An empowerment model of Iranian women for the management of menopause: a grounded theory study

Background and Objectives: There is still no clear portrayal of women's empowerment in managing menopause. The present study was conducted to design a model for the empowerment of Iranian women in managing menopause. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using the grounded theory on  40-60-year-old women who were first selected through purposive sampling and then by theoretical sampling from November 2013 to July 2016. Data were collected using 33 in-depth, semi-structured, individual interviews with 30 participants. Data were analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin(2008) approach and organized in MAXQDA-10. Results: The analysis of the data led to the emergence of "active coping with menopause" as the core variable with four themes. The two themes "threat to feminine identity" and "latent opportunity" explained the context of the study, and "redefining the feminine identity" and "self-retrieval" explained its process. Conclusion: In our social context, the phenomenon of menopause is a coin with two sides and its experience leans more on the threat to feminine identity and less on latent opportunity. The model of postmenopausal women's empowerment for managing menopause might offer health policy-makers a realistic and divergent understanding of the challenges of empowering women by explaining key concepts.

Searching for predictors of sense of quality of health: A study using neural networks on a sample of perimenopausal women

BACKGROUND

We assumed that perimenopausal women's sense of quality of health (SQH) is a subjective evaluation of their psycho-physical health, and comprises three dimensions: sense of quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and the level of positive and negative affect.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to: 1) test a model about SQH, and 2) explore the role of personality traits, self-esteem, body self, and self-stereotype as predictors of SQH.

METHODS

The sample included 201 women aged between 45 and 55 (50.11±3.07). Participants filled out the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Personality Inventory based on the Big Five Factor Model, the Body Self Questionnaire, and a survey querying perimenopausal women's self-stereotype. To determine the individual SQH dimensions we used the Sense of Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Menopause Symptom List, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. To verify the assumptions of the SQH model and look for SQH predictors we conducted a neural networks analysis with structure optimization via genetic algorithms (a multivariate analysis).

RESULTS

The SQH model was verified in the course of several neural networks analyses with structure optimization via genetic algorithms (R = 0.849, R2 = 0.723, F = 133,232, p < 0.01). Moreover, we confirmed that SQH comprised three dimensions: quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and affect. SQH and menopausal symptoms were correlated. Similarly, positive and negative affect modified the women's global sense of quality of life. SQH predictors included: personality traits, self-esteem, the body-self, and menopausal woman's self-stereotype.

CONCLUSION

In practical terms, our findings may help raise awareness among women and medical practitioners, calling for a holistic approach to the health of menopausal women. Our findings may also facilitate the creation of both prevention and therapeutic programs for women transitioning through menopause, for example, cognitive-behavioral therapy.

The influence of climacteric symptoms on women's lives and activities

In the present study, we performed an analysis of the influence of climacteric symptoms on women's lives and activities, i.e. their quality of life (QoL). The study was performed between October 2011 and February 2012. It included 148 women aged 44-62. The study used a diagnostic survey with questionnaires. The research instrument was the Blatt-Kupperman index. The respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire on socio-demographic data, quality of life, and the influence of climacteric symptoms on life and its various aspects. The respondents experiencing moderate or severe climacteric symptoms also had stronger feelings of failure (p = 0.005), feeling that opportunities are still available (p = 0.002), of losing their youth and beauty (p < 0.0001), compared to those who had slight or no symptoms. The intensity of climacteric symptoms significantly affects women's lives and activities, i.e., their QoL. The reported intensity of climacteric symptoms is influenced by the respondents' education, residence, marital status and professional activity. The more severe the climacteric symptoms, the lower the women's quality of life, as evidenced for example by the feeling of failure and of losing one's youth, beauty and opportunities.

Psychosocial Predictors of Satisfaction with Life during Perimenopause and Postmenopause

Objetivo: analizar las variables que favorecen la adaptación de la mujer al climaterio, como son: autoconcepto, autoestima y percepción de apoyo familiar, factores predictores de la satisfacción con la vida en la perimenopausia y la posmenopausia, e identificar las diferencias entre grupos. Materiales y Métodos: la muestra fue no probabilística, con un total de 404 mujeres reunidas en: Grupo I, perimenopausia y Grupo II, posmenopausia. Se aplicaron las escala de 1) Satisfacción con la Vida (SWLS), 2) Autoconcepto de Valdez, 3) Autoestima IGA, 4) Apoyo social percibido (SSP-Fa) y cédula de datos sociodemográficos. Resultados: se encontró que la autoestima, el apoyo familiar percibido y la dimensión expresivo-afectiva del autoconcepto predicen la satisfacción con la vida en 40,3% (R2 = 0,403 p <0,005), sin diferencia entre los dos grupos. Conclusiones: se concluye que estas variables están presentes positivamente en estos grupos de mujeres y deben ser consideradas como fortalezas de la salud mental para la atención integral en enfermería en este periodo de la vida.