Health, symptoms, self-care, and dyadic adjustment in menopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationships among perceived health, menopausal symptoms, and self-care responses in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
A large midwestern city in the United States.


METHODS
One-hundred-one menopausal women who were over age 40, used no hormones during the previous 6 months, and had an intact uterus.


METHODS
Four standardized survey instruments.


RESULTS
Significant correlations were found between self-rated health and health perceptions (r = .44, p = .0004), self-rated health and total symptoms (r = -.30, p = .0023), self-rated health and worrisome symptoms (r = -.26, p = .0085), health perceptions and worrisome symptoms (r = .30, p = .0195), health perceptions and self-care responses (r = .43, p = .0009), and total symptoms and worrisome symptoms (r = .38, p = .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Health is related to menopausal symptoms and self-care. Dyadic adjustment is not related to health, menopausal symptoms, or self-care. Healthy menopausal women provide self-care and need not automatically be treated for menopause.
Bernhard
L A
LA
Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1289.
Sheppard
L
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care