Perceived stress and psychological well-Being among working and non-working menopausal women

Abstract

The present study explores the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being among working and non-working menopausal women in Kerala. Menopause, marking the end of menstrual cycles, often brings significant physical and emotional symptoms due to hormonal changes. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (RSPWB) were used to measure these variables among 60 participants, divided equally into working and non-working groups. Results indicated a significant negative correlation between perceived stress and psychological well-being among working menopausal women and no significant correlation was found among non-working menopausal women. T-test analyses revealed that non-working menopausal women reported significantly higher perceived stress compared to working women. Working menopausal women showed higher psychological well-being compared to their non-working women. Future research should investigate the underlying mechanisms, including the role of social support, coping strategies, and lifestyle factors influencing perceived stress and wellbeing among menopausal women.