Aging anxiety levels of women in menopause and associated factors.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to find out the aging anxiety levels of menopausal women applying to primary healthcare facilities and identify the associated factors.

Methods: This research was conducted on a face-to-face basis with 527 menopausal women applying to family health centers in the district of Serik in Antalya province of Turkey from March 1, 2022, to July 1, 2022, and agreeing to participate in the study. After participant women's sociodemographic and menopausal data were recorded, the Aging Anxiety Scale for Menopausal Women was administered to all participant women.

Results: Of 527 participant women, 41.7% were aged 50-57 years, 71.7% were elementary school graduates, 76.5% were married, 63.0% were housewives, 54.6% were from nuclear families, 49.3% spent a large part (two-thirds) of their lives in the district, 52.8% had incomes equaling their expenses, 69.3% were living with their spouses and children, and 35.7% had their last period 4 years ago or earlier. The mean scores obtained by women from the Aging Anxiety Scale for Menopausal Women and its Fear of Old People, Fear of Loss, Physical Appearance, and Psychological Concerns sub-scales were successively 30.78 (8.00), 10.55 (5.75), 6.75 (3.56), 5.81 (3.42), and 7.63 (2.96).

Conclusion: In the identification and management of areas of top priority for the delivery of health services, a significant role falls on midwives and nurses, who are supposed to approach an individual with a biopsychosocial perspective.