QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN IN MENOPAUSE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

Abstract

Menopause represents a natural biological transition in a woman's life that, in addition to hormonal changes, brings a range of psychophysiological symptoms that may negatively affect quality of life and life satisfaction. Subjective well-being during the menopausal transition is emerging as a key indicator of psychological adjustment, with existing literature pointing to a complex relationship between age, symptom severity, and perceived life satisfaction. Due to inconsistencies in previous research—particularly across diverse social and healthcare contexts—there was a clear need to further explore these interrelations.
Research Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to examine life satisfaction in women undergoing the menopausal transition across different age groups, and to determine whether chronological age is significantly associated with subjective well-being.
Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Cazin Health Center (Bosnia and Herzegovina) between January and August 2025. The sample included 395 women aged 40 to ≥65, categorized into six age groups. Life satisfaction was assessed using the Life Satisfaction Scale by Penezić (2002), which demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.93). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with a significance level set at *p < 0.05.
Results and Discussion: The overall mean life satisfaction score was 69.97 (SD = 13.45). The highest mean score was observed in the youngest age group (≤44 years), while the lowest was found in the group aged ≥65. A clear descriptive trend indicated a gradual decline in life satisfaction with increasing age. However, ANOVA results revealed no statistically significant differences between age groups (F = 0.727; *p = 0.604), suggesting that while average scores varied, these differences are not significant at the population level. The findings point to a potential decline in subjective well-being in the later stages of postmenopause, but also highlight individual variability likely influenced by other factors—such as symptom severity, social support, psychological resilience, and attitudes toward menopause. The relatively high overall life satisfaction in the sample suggests the presence of protective factors. The lack of statistically significant differences among age groups further reinforces the notion that chronological age, while relevant, is neither the sole nor the most critical predictor of subjective well-being in menopausal women.
Conclusions: Although no statistically significant differences in life satisfaction were observed across age groups, the findings underscore the importance of continued research into the factors shaping psychological adjustment during the menopausal transition. Particular attention should be paid to developing integrated healthcare and psychosocial support programs tailored to women in this sensitive life phase.
Recommendations: Future research should focus on multivariate analyses incorporating a broader range of variables, including the severity of menopausal symptoms, levels of social support, physical activity, presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, attitudes toward menopause, and general health status.