A new study reveals that as women age, they experience stronger feelings of anger but become less likely to express it outwardly. This highlights a significant shift in emotional regulation during midlife.
According to the Wall Street Journal, these findings, published in the journal Menopause, indicate a growing mastery of emotional regulation in women as they mature.
Researchers analyzed data from 271 participants in the long-running Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study. The focus was on women aged 35 to 55 who were still menstruating.
The average participant was around 41.6 years old when the study began in the early 1990s and was typically well-educated, employed, married, and had a median income.
The study’s key revelation is that “state anger,” or the subjective feeling of anger, actually increased with chronological age. However, in a surprising contrast, the outward expression of that anger decreased as women grew older.
As reported by WSJ, this suggests that women develop greater control over how they react to angry feelings as they mature.
Additionally, the study pinpointed a spike in anger during the late reproductive stage of women’s lives. Yet, as these women approached menopause, they expressed their anger less frequently and with reduced aggression or hostility.
Interestingly, only one measure of anger — “anger suppressed” — showed no clear link to age, prompting further questions about the long-term impacts of bottling up emotions.
The study’s researchers propose that anger may play a crucial role during midlife.
They hypothesize that repeated experiences with anger as women near menopause could lead to improved emotional regulation and a greater ability to manage their anger as the menopausal transition progresses.
“The mental health side of the menopause transition can have a significant effect on a woman’s personal and professional life,” stated Monica Christmas, the associate medical director of the Menopause Society, in a news release.
She added, “Educating women about the possibility of mood changes during these vulnerable windows and actively managing symptoms can have a profound effect on overall quality of life and health.”
