M A Hautman1. 1. College of Nursing, University of San Diego, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop a conceptualization of perimenopause experienced by Filipina-American women. DESIGN: Grounded theory methods of interviews and constant comparative analysis. SETTING: Participants were interviewed in their homes or other location of their choosing. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen Filipina-American women who had not menstruated in the past 6 months or who identified themselves as perimenopausal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changing womanhood was the core category and was related to three major categories living in my changing body changing family relationships and changing community networks. RESULTS: The women experienced changes such as hot flashes and irritability as well as role conflicts and broadening community involvement. The perimenopause is also a time to focus on oneself and to seek activities of a personal, familial, and community nature that are fulfilling in a different way than previous child-rearing activities. CONCLUSION: Filipina-American women experience perimenopause as a normal process of aging rather than as symptomatic of disease, thus providing a health-oriented model of perimenopause.
OBJECTIVE: To develop a conceptualization of perimenopause experienced by Filipina-American women. DESIGN: Grounded theory methods of interviews and constant comparative analysis. SETTING:Participants were interviewed in their homes or other location of their choosing. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen Filipina-American women who had not menstruated in the past 6 months or who identified themselves as perimenopausal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changing womanhood was the core category and was related to three major categories living in my changing body changing family relationships and changing community networks. RESULTS: The women experienced changes such as hot flashes and irritability as well as role conflicts and broadening community involvement. The perimenopause is also a time to focus on oneself and to seek activities of a personal, familial, and community nature that are fulfilling in a different way than previous child-rearing activities. CONCLUSION: Filipina-American women experience perimenopause as a normal process of aging rather than as symptomatic of disease, thus providing a health-oriented model of perimenopause.