Spousal Support and Sexual Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

No Intervention: This is an observational study. No intervention, treatment, or behavioral modification is applied. Data are collected using self-reported questionnaires only.

Study summary

Menopause is a natural transition period in women's lives characterized by concurrent hormonal, psychological, and relational changes. During the postmenopausal period, hormonal alterations are not limited to physical symptoms but also have significant effects on psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships, and particularly sexual quality of life. Common concerns during this period include decreased sexual desire, vaginal dryness, pelvic discomfort, and reduced sexual satisfaction, all of which may negatively affect overall quality of life. Sexual quality of life is influenced not only by biological factors but also by psychological and relational dimensions.

The quality of partner relationships and perceived partner support play an important role in women's adaptation to sexual changes during the postmenopausal period. However, partner support during menopause is often reported to be insufficient, which may adversely affect sexual well-being. Despite this, evidence examining the relationship between perceived partner support and sexual quality of life in postmenopausal women remains limited.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of perceived partner support on sexual quality of life in postmenopausal women. Through this investigation, the explanatory role of partner support in postmenopausal sexual well-being is aimed.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Introduction Information Forum — At enrollment
  This form was developed by the researchers based on the relevant literature and consists of 36 items assessing participants' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including age, educational level, employment status, duration of marriage, duration of menopause, and presence of chronic disease.
• The Sexual Quality of Life-Female Questionnaire — At enrollment
  The Sexual Quality of Life-Female Questionnaire (SQoL-F) was developed by Symonds et al. (2005) to assess women's perceived sexual quality of life. The Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Tugut and Golbasi (2010). The scale consists of 18 items, each rated on a 6-point Likert scale (1 = Completely agree, 6 = Completely disagree). The raw total score ranges from 18 to 108. Items 1, 5, 9, 13, and 18 are reverse scored prior to calculating the total score. The raw total score is transformed to a 0-100 scale using the following formula: (raw score - 18) × 100 / 90. Higher scores indicate better sexual quality of life, whereas lower scores indicate poorer sexual quality of life. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Turkish version is reported as 0.83.
• The Menopause Spousal Support Scale — At enrollment
  The Menopause Spousal Support Scale was developed to assess perceived spousal support among women during menopause. The Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Küçükkelepçe et al. (2024). The scale consists of 17 items and includes four subscales: emotional support, instrumental support, esteem support, and sexual intimacy support. Items are rated on a 10-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 10 (almost always). The total score ranges from 17 to 170. Higher scores indicate greater perceived spousal support, whereas lower scores indicate lower perceived spousal support. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Turkish version is 0.96.

Trial sites (1)

More Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa trials in Turkey

Other trials for the same condition