Women’s life orientation and pro-health behavioural patterns in the perimenopausal phase

Introduction
The majority of women in the perimenopausal phase declare experiencing unpleasant psychic and physical symptoms, which are the result of a gradual decrease in production of sex hormones. Women’s quality of life in this period depends on generalised expectancies for the future defined as dispositional optimism, and on practising pro-health lifestyle factors.

Aim of the research
To evaluate the life orientation, understood as the level of women’s dispositional optimism in the perimenopausal phase, and their behavioural patterns related to pro-health lifestyle.

Material and methods
The research was conducted in the group of 60 women aged 45–55 years. The obtained results were compared with the results of 55 women aged 25–35 years. In evaluation of women’s expectancies for the nearest future, the Life Orientation Test – LOT-R was used. For the purpose of evaluating pro-health behaviours, a test created by the Author was applied. The results were statistically analysed by means of the c² test. For statistical conclusions, the significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted.

Results
Perimenopausal women reveal a pessimistic attitude towards approaching future. Perimenopausal symptoms negatively affect the quality of life in the aspect of sexual functions. Perimenopausal women take insufficient prophylactic actions concerning oncological illnesses.

Conclusions
Promotion of a healthy lifestyle must make women aware of the necessity of taking care of their health, giving up addictions, starting regular physical activities, and healthy eating habits. In the care of mature women, it is important that the gynaecologist cooperate with other specialists: psychologists, dieticians, and physiotherapists.