Differences in menopausal symptoms and coping strategies according to personality in Japanese nurses

We examined the associations of type A personality with menopausal symptoms and strategies for coping with menopausal symptoms in Japanese nurses. Valid responses to health questionnaires were obtained from 1174 nurses aged 45-60 years．Menopausal symptoms were assessed using Greene's climacteric scale, and a type A behaviour pattern was assessed using the type A rating scale developed for the Japanese. The mean score of psychological symptoms in nurses with a type A personality was significantly higher than that in the nurses with a non-type A personality. The proportion of the nurses who received hormone replacement therapy in the nurses with a type A personality was significantly higher than that in the nurses with a non-type A personality. The nurses with a type A personality had a sufficient understanding of treatments for menopausal symptoms. In conclusion, there were differences in the menopausal symptoms and coping strategies between the nurses who had a type A personality and the nurses who had a non-type A personality. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Menopausal symptoms have been shown to be affected by lifestyle and by socioeconomic status as well as oestrogen deficiency, but there have been few studies on the associations of personality with menopausal symptoms and coping with the menopausal symptoms. The type A personality is associated with a greater risk for the development of several diseases. However, the association of a type A behaviour pattern with menopausal symptoms has not been clarified. What do the results of this study add? There were differences in the menopausal symptoms and the coping strategies between women with a type A personality and women with a non-type A personality. Psychological symptoms were found more frequently in the Japanese nurses with a type A personality. The proportion of nurses who received hormone replacement therapy in the nurses with a type A personality was significantly higher than that in the nurses with a non-type A personality. There were no significant differences in the proportions of nurses in the two groups with other coping strategies. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The management for coping strategies according to the type of personality should be considered.