A recent U.S.-based study has revealed that while feelings of anger intensify among women as they approach midlife, their capacity to express these emotions tends to diminish.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Menopause, utilized data from the extensive Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study. This long-running study meticulously observed the emotional and physiological transformations in 271 women aged between 35 and 55 over several years.
According to the findings, the majority of the study participants were well-educated, employed, married, and belonged to the middle class. The average age at the study’s commencement was 41.6 years.
Researchers observed that women in their late reproductive years reported heightened feelings of anger. However, as they transitioned towards the end of their reproductive phase—marking the onset of menopause—these same women appeared to express their anger less frequently.
The researchers interpreted this decline in overt emotional expression as a form of increased emotional regulation, suggesting that midlife women may develop more nuanced strategies for managing their internal emotional responses. “It appears that while the emotional experience of anger may intensify, women simultaneously become more adept at managing or containing that anger,” the study noted.
One aspect that remained relatively consistent throughout the study was the women’s tendency to repress anger—a pattern that researchers believe warrants closer examination. The report cautioned that suppressing emotions over extended periods could lead to negative mental health outcomes and should be further investigated in future studies.
This study contributes to a growing body of literature exploring the emotional shifts experienced by women during perimenopause and menopause, underscoring the vital need for greater awareness and robust support structures during this critical life stage.
Experts emphasize that these findings highlight the importance of integrating mental health support into midlife healthcare for women, particularly given that emotional suppression may have consequences.
