THE INFLUENCE OF BASIC CONDITIONING FACTORS ON MENOPAUSAL SELF-CARE AGENCY AND MENOPAUSAL SELF-CARE IN MIDLIFE WOMEN.
Contributors: Wayne State University.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 182
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to test a mid-range theory of menopausal self-care deduced from Orem's Theory of Self-Care Deficit and Theory of Self-Care that was both theoretically and clinically relevant to nursing. Theoretically, this inquiry tested the relationship between basic conditioning factors and menopausal self-care agency and menopausal self-care. Selected basic conditioning factors included age, developmental state, sociocultural/economic factors, family systems factors, and sources of helpful menopausal information. Menopausal Self-Care Agency was conceptualized as the menopausal attitudes, intrinsic motivation, and menopausal knowledge necessary for menopausal self-care. Menopausal Self-Care included self-care practices relevant throughout midlife used to promote and maintain overall health and well-being.

A simple random sample of 188 women school teachers and administrators 40 to 60 years old was selected from the Michigan Department of Education registry of professional personnel. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires mailed to the women. A descriptive-correlational survey design was used to test the hypotheses and to answer the research questions.

Minimal support for the relationship between selected basic conditioning factors and menopausal self-care agency and menopausal self-care was found. Of the basic conditioning factors, perception of mothers' menopausal attitudes influenced the women's attitudes explaining 12% $(p<.01)$ of the variance. Age accounted for a small (8%) but significant amount of variance $(p<.05)$ in menopausal self-care. Of the components of menopausal self-care agency, the women's menopausal attitudes were the most significant predictor of menopausal self-care explaining 29% $(p<.001)$ of the variance. Together, age, menopausal attitudes, and intrinsic motivation accounted for 49% $(p<.05,\ p<.001,\ p<.01,$ respectively) of the variance in menopausal self-care. Helpful sources of menopausal information and menopausal knowledge were not significantly related to menopausal self-care.

Clinically, the results supported key areas for nursing intervention and research by assessing the influence of mothers' menopausal attitudes on women's menopausal attitudes, women's intrinsic motivation for menopausal self-care, and reasons why women failed to perform menopausal self-care the way that they would like.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-12, Section: B, page: 7460.

Thesis (PH.D.)--WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1996.

School code: 0254.