Self-regulation model applied to menopause: a mixed-methods study

Abstract

Objectives: Considering that bio-psycho-sociocultural variables influence menopause, this research aimed to assess the suitability of the self-regulation model in explaining the menopausal experience, and to explore differences among participants with different characteristics (e.g. health, sexual related) regarding menopause representations.

Methods: Overall, 27 Portuguese women aged 40–65 years were assessed for sociodemographics, health, and sexual activity, as well as menopausal status and symptoms. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. A directed content analysis was performed, and the qualitative data presented. Afterward, the frequencies of the categories were analyzed through quantitative methods (Mann–Whitney U tests).

Results: Aging was the most frequently mentioned feature regarding menopause Identity, whereas vasomotor symptoms were the most mentioned regarding Negative Consequences and menses cessation regarding Positive Consequences. Features related to Cause (hormonal changes) and Control (need for acceptance) of menopause were also identified. No differences were found in the frequency of menopause representations between women with different characteristics (e.g. with higher vs. lower vasomotor symptom severity).

Conclusion: The suitability of the self-regulation model to explain these women’s menopause experience was confirmed and the representations did not vary among participants with different characteristics. This research might help professionals and researchers in developing comprehensive interventions, based on this theoretical model.

摘要

目的：考虑到生物-心理-社会文化变量对绝经期的影响, 本研究旨在评估自我调节模型在解释绝经期体验方面的适用性, 并探索不同特征(如健康, 性相关)的参与者在绝经期表征方面的差异。

方法：总体而言, 对27名年龄在40-65岁的葡萄牙妇女进行了社会人口统计学、健康和性活动以及绝经状态和症状的评估。进行半结构化深度访谈。进行了定向内容分析, 并提供了定性数据。然后, 通过定量的方法 (Mann-Whitney U检验)分析类别的出现频率。

结果：衰老是最常被提及的绝经期特征, 而血管舒缩性症状是最常被提及的消极后果, 月经停止则是积极后果。还确定了与引起(激素变化)和控制(需要接受)绝经期有关的特征。具有不同特征(如血管舒缩症状严重程度高与低)的妇女在绝经期表现的频率上无差异。

结论：自我调节模型对解释这些妇女的绝经期体验方面的适用性得到了证实, 并且在具有不同特征的参与者中, 其表现没有变化。基于此理论模型, 本研究可能有助于专业人士和研究人员开发综合干预措施。

Keywords:

• Menopause
• representations
• self-regulation model
• mixed methods

Potential conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

William James Center for Research is funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia – FCT [grant UID/PSI/04810/2019].