The Penultimate

Abstract

As the expected life span of women increases, women live more years in the postmenopausal phase. This extended period of the life cycle deserves a dynamic description with a focus on the unique biological, psychological, social and cultural issues. A developmental model will be combined with a psychodynamic theory in order to create a comprehensive understanding about the physical and mental health concerns. The goal of this paper is to redefine through case examples this important phase of adult development and to recognize it, not as prolongation of earlier phases, but as a phase with its own idiosyncratic features.

Key Words:

• Women
• postmenopause
• development
• penultimate