Well-being during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause: a longitudinal analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine relationships between well-being and the menopausal transition (MT) to determine (1) whether women's well-being varies over the course of the MT and early postmenopause (PM) and (2) whether any observed variation is predicted by MT variables, other midlife transitions, or personal resources.


METHODS
Women from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study (N = 334) provided data for these analyses from at least one annual health questionnaire and a menstrual calendar. A subset of women provided a first morning voided urine specimen from 1997 through 2005. Urine samples were assayed for estrone glucuronide and follicle-stimulating hormone. Mixed-effects modeling using the R library was used to investigate whether MT-related factors, including MT stage, presence of hot flashes, hot flash severity and levels of estrone glucuronide and follicle-stimulating hormone, number of negative life events, or personal resources of mastery and satisfaction with social support are significant predictors of well-being.


RESULTS
The model that best fit the data showed that mastery and satisfaction with social support predicted increases in well-being, whereas negative life events predicted decreases in well-being. None of the MT-related factors predicted change in well-being.


CONCLUSIONS
The variability in women's well-being in this study was more affected by life events other than the MT and early PM and by the personal resources available to meet transition demands. These findings suggest that for most women, the MT is not a predictor of level of well-being when considered in a broader life context.
Smith-DiJulio
Kathleen
K
Department of Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98112-2135, USA. smithdijulio@comcast.net
Woods
Nancy Fugate
NF
Mitchell
Ellen Sullivan
ES
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004970:Estrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000652:urine; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012944:Social Support; D016387:Women's Health
D004970:Estrone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone