Women’s Perceptions of the Role of Menopause and Perimenopause on Quality of Life
Date of Conferral
10-25-2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Medha Talpade
Abstract
The menopausal transition is a natural occurrence in a woman’s life cycle. As such, biological symptoms are well documented. However, there is a lack of research on psychological effects of the menopausal transition. This lack of research can lead to a sense of stigma that can interfere with obtaining appropriate medical or psychological help. Understanding how women perceive the menopausal transition can help medical providers talk to female patients to help them develop coping mechanisms and create support systems. This qualitative study involved exploring how women perceive the menopausal transition using a feminist theoretical framework. Individual interviews were used to explore how lived experiences involving menopausal transition and community interactions affected quality of life for women. Four emergent themes were derived from findings: perceptions of the menopausal transition, biopsychosocial changes, expressions of how participants felt about and related to others in their lives, and help-seeking behavior. Results indicate that while there is variability in terms of how women perceive the menopausal transition, perimenopausal and menopausal women value supporting communities. Furthermore, results of the study can help women understand how they can take control of their health, and it can help medical providers promote positive social change through understanding what questions to ask their aging women patients to help them improve their quality of lives during the menopausal transition.
Recommended Citation
Gravini, Victoria, "Women’s Perceptions of the Role of Menopause and Perimenopause on Quality of Life" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15001.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15001
