Psychological hardiness and coping behaviour implementation in Japanese menopausal women: a cross-sectional survey of stress, coping strategies, and their translation into behaviour.

OBJECTIVE: Menopausal symptoms are complex psychosomatic experiences influenced by psychological resources and behavioural coping processes, in addition to hormonal changes. Although coping strategies have been widely examined, the factors associated with the implementation of coping behaviours remain unclear. This study examined how psychological hardiness relates to coping strategies, coping behaviour implementation, and menopausal symptoms.

METHODS: This cross-sectional survey of 198 women aged 45-55 years assessed menopausal symptoms, daily stress, hardiness, coping strategies, and coping behaviour implementation. Coping behaviour implementation for menopausal symptoms was defined as self-reporting of practicing at least one coping behaviour. Coping behaviour implementation was evaluated as a behavioural outcome measure. Group comparisons and multiple regression and logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Women with higher hardiness reported lower psychological and somatic symptom severity and greater use of active coping strategies. Most coping strategies were not directly associated with symptom severity. Logistic regression showed that coping behaviour implementation was positively associated with psychological symptoms and commitment, and negatively associated with responsibility shifting.

CONCLUSIONS: Psychological hardiness, particularly commitment, is associated with coping behaviour implementation rather than directly reducing symptoms. These finding suggest that psychological engagement may be relevant to adaptive self-management during menopause.