Psychological Status of Perimenopausal Women with Climacteric Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction. Women’s health is an important goal of modern medical, psychological, and social research. Unfavorable external and internal negative factors, which worsen psychoemotional status and lead to psychophysiological disadaptation, and also the increase in life expectancy determine the importance of the issue. Perimenopausal women with the so-called climacteric syndrome are at special risk. The novelty of the research lies in studying psychological characteristics of perimenopause complicated with climacteric syndrome.
 Methods. The study used the following techniques: (a) “Your Health”, a questionnaire developed by O. S. Kopina and L. Reader; (b) “Assessing Neuropsychic Stress”, a technique by T. A. Nemchin; (c) the Rapid Diagnosis of Predisposition to Unwarranted Anxiety by V. V. Boyko; (d) the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) by Ch. D. Spielberg and Yu. L. Khanin; (e) the Individual Typological Questionnaire (ITQ) by L. N. Sobchik; (f) and a technique for diagnosing health, activity, and mood – HAM test – developed by V. A. Doskin and co-authors. The participants comprised 143 menopausal women aged 45–55 years.
 Results. The study revealed the insufficiently explored personality characteristics in menopausal women with and without climacteric syndrome. Personal anxiety and climacteric syndrome had a statistically significant relationship in perimenopausal women.
 Discussion. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the psychology of menopause and help in improving methods for diagnosis and psychocorrection of climacteric syndrome. Further research will concentrate on the bioelectric and bioenergetic processes forming the basis for personality characteristics in women with climacteric syndrome.