Psychosocial vulnerability to life events during the climacteric

The mid-life period is regarded as a period of profound physical and psychosocial change for women. Psychological disturbance at this time has been associated with discrete life events. The influence of other psychosocial variables on psychological disturbance is examined in a general population sample. Five psychosocial variables are shown to have a relationship with psychological disturbance, either in conjunction with or independently of life events. The implications of these findings for the understanding of psychological disturbance at this time are discussed.