'I don't know whether it is to do with age or to do with hormones and whether it is do with a stage in your life': making sense of menopause and the body

J Health Psychol. 2013 Feb;18(2):292-307. doi: 10.1177/1359105312454040. Epub 2012 Aug 17.

Abstract

This article discusses a mixed-methods study that explored women's views about menopause and any relationship between these and several measures of body consciousness. A total of 270 women in the United Kingdom completed surveys of menopausal attitudes, self-objectification, body surveillance and body shame. There was a positive association between rating highly on body dissatisfaction scales and holding negative attitudes towards menopause. Interviews (n = 12) were conducted to investigate this further. Menopause was inextricably linked with aging for these women, and changing appearance was a particular concern for women who rated high on self-objectification. The implications of this are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Body Image / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Middle Aged
  • Perimenopause / psychology*
  • Postmenopause / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Kingdom