Experiences of the menopause: A comparison between Portugal and the United Kingdom

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to compare experiences of the menopause in Portuguese and British women. Two groups of Portuguese and British women (n= 100 and n=42, respectively), completed and returned a questionnaire which assessed the appraisal of symptoms and beliefs about the menopause. Portuguese and British women differed significantly in symptom reporting and perceptions of the menopause. British women were more likely to associate the menopause with loss of perceived femaleness, while Portuguese women were more likely to associate the menopause with physical and psychological changes. This study raises questions about social representations of the menopause, in relation to the status and role of women in different European societies.

Este estudo teve como objectivo comparar experiCncias da menopausa em mulheres Portuguesas e Britinicas (n= 100 e n=42, respectivamente). As participantes neste estudo completaram um questionirio que avaliou sintomas e crenqas em relaqzo ?I menopausa. Encontraram-se diferenqas significativas entre OS dois grupos de mulheres na avaliaq8o de sintomas e na percepqlo da menopausa. As mulheres BritPnicas tendem a associar a menopausa com perda de feminilidade, enquanto que as Portuguesas associam a menopausa com alteraq6es fisicas e psicol6gicas. Este estudo levanta quest6es acerca da representaqfio social da menopausa, em relaqlo com o estudo e o papel da mulher de meia idade em diferentes sociedades Europeias.