INDIAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH STUDIES - Volume 5 Issue 2, July 23

Pages: 111-129

Date of Publication: 31-Jul-2023

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Symptoms and Coping in Menopause among Urban Indian Women: A Cross-Cultural View

Author: Ria Popli

Category: Health Studies

Abstract:

Menopause for long has been understood as an age of crisis but now the perspective is shifting. Bodily changes associated with menopause are turbulent. Additional aspects include those that are psychological, physiological, cultural, and spiritual. The aim of the study was to explore and understand symptoms experienced and the coping strategies used to manage menopausal symptoms among urban Indian women cross culturally. The research was qualitative in nature. Focus group discussions were conducted to understand the phenomenon. The data was further analyzed using the thematic analysis framework by Braune and Clark. A total of 6 themes and 17 sub themes were identified. The themes are: sources of information, physical symptoms, emotional symptoms, physical coping, emotional coping, and the role of COVID-19. The major sources of information were family, peers, and social media. The symptoms ranged from weight gain, hot flushes, joint pain, hair loss to emotional upheaval and irritability. The coping for the same included yoga, exercise, having a proper diet and social support. However, the role of COVID-19 has emerged in a way that it paved the way for lack of clarity among women with menopause. There were no significant differences among symptoms and coping of North Indian and South Indian women. Future research can focus on interventions aimed at symptom management and coping techniques

Keywords: Menopause, symptoms, coping, India

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