The menopause viewed in relation to other life events--a study performed in Belgium.

In order to study the impact of the menopause and hysterectomy in relation to other life events, a study was carried out in Belgium in a random sample of 510 women over 18 yr of age. It was found that these 2 life events are not perceived as being important. Comparison of the findings with those of an earlier unpublished study performed by the International Health Foundation on the same subject indicates that there has been a decrease in the perceived severity of the 2 life events. This could mean that, in the intervening period, socioeconomic status and emotional problems have acquired greater importance, although the change in attitudes might also be partly explained by the fact that the respondents were younger.