Psychological distress in menopause: Individual factors, loneliness and social support.

The aim of the authors of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological distress and loneliness levels among women going through menopause and their perceived social support. This descriptive, relational study collected data between November 2023 and October 2024. Data were gathered using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Psychological Distress Scale. Our findings indicated that the participating women experienced moderate levels of loneliness (43.58 ± 8.97) and psychological distress (26.14 ± 9.55), and reported a moderate level of perceived social support (51.51 ± 19.50). Path analysis was conducted to investigate the mediating role of social support in the relationship between psychological distress and loneliness. Our results suggest that enhanced social support is necessary to reduce levels of psychological distress and loneliness among menopausal women, and that increases in perceived social support may contribute to a healthier menopausal experience.