FIELDER, Katherine Vaughn    KURPIUS, Sharon E. Robinson. Marriage, Stress and Menopause: Midlife Challenges and Joys. []. , 19, 1-2, pp.87-106. ISSN 0874-2049.

^len^aThis study investigated the relationship of two contextual variables (the marital relationship and stress) with the experience of menopause for 224 married midlife women. These women completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Quality of Relationship Inventory, the Women’s Health Questionnaire, the Index of Sexual Satisfaction, and the Life Events Questionnaire for Middle­‑Aged Women. Marital quality, marital satisfaction, and stress predicted menopausal symptomatology. Women in dissatisfying marriages, characterized by less social support, less depth, and higher conflict, reported increased stress and more menopausal symptomatology than did women in satisfying marriages. Sexual satisfaction was positively related to marital satisfaction. No differences were found due to menopausal stage. These findings suggest that relationship variables may override menopausal status in importance as midlife women move through the menopausal transition.^lpt^aEste estudo investigou a relação de duas variáveis contextuais (a relação conjugal e o stress) com a experiência de menopausa em 224 mulheres de meia­‑idade, casadas. As mulheres responderam à Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Quality of Relationship Inventory, Women’s Health Questionnaire, Index of Sexual Satisfaction e Life Events Questionnaire for Middle­‑Aged Women. A qualidade conjugal, a satisfação conjugal e o stress permitiram prever a sintomatologia menopáusica. As mulheres com casamentos insatisfatórios, caracterizados por menos suporte social, menor profundidade e maior conflito, referiram um aumento de stress e mais sintomatologia menopáusica do que as mulheres com casamentos satisfatórios. A satisfação sexual está positivamente relacionada com a satisfação conjugal. Não se encontraram diferenças devidas ao estatuto de menopausa. Estes resultados sugerem que quando as mulheres atravessam a transição da menopausa, as variáveis relacionais podem ultrapassar em importância o estatuto de menopausa.

: women; menopause symptomatology; marital quality; stress.

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