Symptom experience and self-care strategies among healthy, midlife African-American women.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

The transition into menopause is an experience that is unique to every woman. This experience can encompass anything from an occasional hot flash to complete and utter distress. Considerable attention is being paid to African-American women as they transition through menopause, but their use of symptom self-care strategies is an area that would benefit from further research. Findings from this study are part of a larger five-year study exploring biopsychosocial health and wellness among diverse midlife women. This report includes identification of symptom prevalence, symptom distress, and self-care strategies used by midlife African-American women during a six-month time period. Prevalent or severe symptoms included fatigue, headaches, cramps, night sweats, and depression. Most self-care strategies were "passive" strategies, such as 'faith," "think," "accept," or "value/believe/forgive self". It is recommended that health-care providers inquire about other symptoms that might accompany classic vasomotor menopausal symptoms and identify "active" self-care strategies that ameliorate specific symptoms.

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Hudson, AL; Taylor, D; Lee, KA; Gilliss, CL

Published Date

  • December 2005

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 16 / 2

Start / End Page

  • 6 - 14

PubMed ID

  • 16570641

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0885-6028

Language

  • eng