Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences - Theses
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ItemMenopause, self-compassion and attitudes to ageing: an investigation of well-being at midlife( 2015)A large body of research has investigated the potential burden that menopausal factors, especially perimenopausal stage and menopausal hot flashes, can have on elevating symptoms of depression. Building on this literature, this thesis aims to extend an understanding of mental health during the menopause transition in three key ways. First, given that not all women feel depressed during the menopause, this study seeks to understand these individual differences in experience, through considering self-compassion and healthy beliefs about the menopause as resilience factors that might predict low depressive symptoms in the context of menopause. Second, given that well-being involves not just the absence of distressing symptoms such as depression but also the presence of positive qualities such as happiness and a sense of life purpose, this thesis investigates how menopausal factors contribute to positive well-being at midlife. Finally, given that menopause occurs within the broader context of ageing and changing psychosocial life circumstances, this thesis considers how attitudes to ageing might shape women’s experience of menopause, and also women’s change in positive well-being over a ten year time frame. Taken together, these objectives serve to advance an understanding of well-being among midlife women transitioning through menopause. This community based study used questionnaire data from 517 women aged between 40 and 60 at the time of data collection in 2013. Data from 492 participants was matched to well-being data collected from the sample in 2003. This subset of data was used to investigate if attitudes to ageing shape 10 year well-being trajectories. Structural equation modelling was used to model relationships among study variables. Over all, self-compassion and reporting a sense of control over menopausal symptoms were identified as key factors that predict high well-being in the context of menopause. Moreover, self-compassion was found to moderate the relationship between menopausal hot flushes and hot flush daily interference ratings, such that women with high self-compassion found flushes to be less interfering in daily life relative to women with low self-compassion. Positive attitudes to ageing were found to predict a good experience of the menopause transition, with attitudes towards psychosocial loss associated with age being especially important. Furthermore, positive attitudes to ageing significantly predicted 10-year well-being trajectories, over and above variance explained by baseline well-being and demographics. Finally, self-compassion was identified as a predictor of positive attitudes to ageing, which subsequently predicted self-reported health and well-being indices. Results reported in this thesis demonstrate that self-compassion is a resilience factor that might promote well-being and functioning during the menopause transition. Self-compassion may also enable women to feel more positive about ageing in general, such that they might enjoy the benefits of ageing without being overwhelmed by the costs. In addition to self-compassion, a positive attitude to ageing and feeling a sense of control over menopausal symptoms might promote well-being at midlife. An integrated biopsychosocial approach to treatment of menopausal symptoms that enhances self-compassion together with symptom control is a promising area for future research.