The Experience of Menopausal Transition among Amish Women

102 Pages·2017·3.72 MB·English

by  Desiree R. Batson

UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff TTeennnneesssseeee,, KKnnooxxvviillllee
TTRRAACCEE:: TTeennnneesssseeee RReesseeaarrcchh aanndd CCrreeaattiivvee
EExxcchhaannggee
Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School
5-2004
TThhee EExxppeerriieennccee ooff MMeennooppaauussaall TTrraannssiittiioonn aammoonngg AAmmiisshh WWoommeenn
Desiree R. Batson
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss
Part of the Nursing Commons
RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn
Batson, Desiree R., "The Experience of Menopausal Transition among Amish Women. " PhD diss.,
University of Tennessee, 2004.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/4527
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee
Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized
administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact
[email protected].
To the Graduate Council:
I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Desiree R. Batson entitled "The Experience of
Menopausal Transition among Amish Women." I have examined the final electronic copy of this
dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Nursing.
Sandra Thomas, Major Professor
We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance:
Johnie N. Mozingo, Mitzi Davis, Howard Pollio
Accepted for the Council:
Carolyn R. Hodges
Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
(Original signatures are on file with official student records.)
To the Graduate Council:
I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Desiree R. Batson entitled "The
Experience of Menopausal Transition among Amish Women." I have examined the final
paper copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a
major in Nursing.
Sandra Thomas, Major Professor
We have read this dissertation
and recommend its acceptance:
C
Accepted for the Council:
Vice Chancellor and Dean of
Graduate Studies
THE EXPERIENCE OF MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION
AMONG AMISH WOMEN
A Dissertation
Presented for the
Doctor of Philosophy
Degree
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Desiree R. Batson
May 2004
Copyright © 2004 by Desiree R. Batson
All rights reserved.
11
DEDICATION
This dissertation is dedicated to my children, my parents, and the rest of my family, who
have always believed in me, encouraged me, and provided me with the strength to
achieve my goals.
lll
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Dr. Sandra Thomas for her guidance, support, and the gentle
pushing to actually realize the completion of my dissertation. I would like to thank my
dissertation committee, Dr. Howard Pollio, Dr. Mitzi Davis, and Dr. Johnie Mozingo for
their support and guidance. Also, many thanks to the University of Tennessee
phenomenology group who provided me with a greater insight of my phenomenon and
the encouragement to complete my dissertation. Finally, I owe a special thanks to the
group of women who opened their homes to me and spoke so candidly about the
menopausal transition.
IV
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the meaning of the
menopausal transition in Amish women. Using in-depth interviews, 10 Amish women
who were transitioning into menopause were asked to respond to the question, "As you
think of your experiences going through the 'change of life,' what specific things stand
out for you?"
Three themes emerged: "This is such a natural thing." a descriptor of
natural/unnatural; "I don't know if what I have has been normal, but what is normal?" a
descriptor of change, the expected and unexpected; and "We finally figured it out." a
descriptor of a search for clarification/validation. Each theme was interrelated while
being imposed on the background of health and the reproductive body.
As described by the participants, the menopausal transition is viewed as part of
the reproductive cycle and is therefore considered part of the natural order of life. The
accompanying bodily changes are expected and yet distinctly different for each
individual woman. Preventive practices to guard against diseases, such as osteoporosis
and cardiac disease, are begun early in life while the women are still in their youth.
Amish women do not view menopause as an escape from childbearing or a sign that they
are aging. Many of the women interviewed experienced childbirth after the age of 40 and
expressed the belief that these young children maintained their youthfulness. The Amish
do not experience the "empty nest syndrome." While Amish women are not exempt from
psychosocial disruption, decline in health, or depression, the women who described
problems with depression and anxiety were more likely to relate a decline in their health
status or other psychosocial issues. Many women expressed the thought that the transition
into menopause had changed little in their daily lives, although they would like to be able
to slow down and have some time to focus their energies on themselves.
Further research among the Amish women should explore the impact of later life
pregnancy on transitional symptoms, the average duration and onset of the menopausal
transition, and the occurrence, severity, and usual treatment of transitional symptoms.
V
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 1
Purpose Statement ..................................................................... 3
Stance of the Researcher .............................................................. 3
Research Framework .................................................................. 4
Delimitations and Limitations ........................................................ 7
Significance of the Study .............................................................8
II. LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................9
Review of the Literature .............................................................. 9
Description of the Menopausal Transition ............................................ 9
Symptoms of the Menopausal Transition .......................................... 10
Current Treatment for Menopausal Transition .................................... 19
Self-Care Practices of the Menopausal Transition Women ......................2 2
Cultural Aspects of the Menopausal Transition ...................................2 4
Description of the Amish ............................................................2 8
Religious/Cultural Beliefs ...........................................................2 9
Social Organization ...................................................................2 9
Health Promotion and Care Among the Amish ................................... 31
Summary .............................3.5. ................................................
III. METHODOLOGY ...................................................................3 7
Methodology ........................................................................... 3 7
The Role of the Researcher ......................................................... 40
Protection of Human Subjects .. . . .. . .. . .. . . . .. . .. . . .. .. . .. . . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . . . .. .. 40
Access to Participants .. . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. 41
Bracketing Interview and Pilot Study ............................................. 41
Data Collection and Recording ..................................................... 42
Data Analysis and Interpretation ................................................... 43
Validation/A ccuracy of Findings .................................................. .43
Summary .............................4.4. ................................................
IV. RESULTS .............................................................................. 45
Demographic Characteristics ......................................................... 45
The Setting .............................................................................. 45
Participant Vignettes ..................................................................4 6
Thematic Structure ..................................................................... 49
Vl
Contextual Grounds for the Experience. ............................................ 50
Themes .................................................................................. 54
Summary ...........................................6...6. . ................................
V. DISCUSSION .......................................................................... 67
Thematic Structure ..................................................................... 67
Implications for Nursing .............................................................. 70
LIST of REFERENCES and BIBLIOGRAPHY. ................................. 73
References ..............................................................................7 4
Bibliography. .......................................................................... 84
APPENDICES ..... ................................................................... 87
Appendix A: Institutional Review Board Approval. .............................8 8
Appendix B: Informed Consent ...................................................... 89
Appendix C: Confidentiality Agreement for Research Group .................. 91
VITA. ................................................................................... 92
Vll