Psychological meaning of a woman with a hysterectomy among Mexican physicians and women.
The psychological meaning of women who have had a hysterectomy, and attitudes toward them, were explored in 121 Mexican gynecologists, 155 women who had undergone a hysterectomy, and 115 women who had not had a hysterectomy. The surveys were completed between January and May 2011. Both groups of women defined a woman who had had a hysterectomy using words with positive meanings (healthy, happy, reassured, and complete), as well as words with negative meanings (sad, incomplete, and irritable). However, the participants who had not had a hysterectomy defined a woman who had had a hysterectomy using more negative words and showed more negative attitudes toward such a woman with a hysterectomy than those women who had undergone a hysterectomy. Among participants who had undergone a hysterectomy, those who were premenopausal prior to the surgery and those who had undergone bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy defined a woman who had had a hysterectomy in a more negative manner and showed the most negative attitudes. The gynecologists did not use words with emotional content regarding women who had had a hysterectomy and showed more neutral attitudes toward such a woman than did both groups of women. These findings could be helpful in designing support programs for women facing a hysterectomy.
Institute of Psychological Research, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico. mlmarvan@gmail.com
Maria Luisa
ML
Marván
Rosa Lilia
RL
Catillo-López
Yamilet
Y
Ehrenzweig
Pedro
P
Palacios
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires