Title
The roles of biologic and nonbiologic factors in cultural differences in vasomotor symptoms measured by surveys
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Date
7-2007
Document Type
Article
Subjects
*Cross-Cultural Comparison; Cross-Sectional Studies; *Cultural Characteristics; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Menopause; *Questionnaires; Women's Health
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Women's Studies
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review evidence of cultural differences in both biologic and nonbiologic factors as possible explanations for variation across cultures in self-reported vasomotor symptoms from surveys.
DESIGN: Literature review and cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons of ethnic groups with respect to patterns of symptom reporting from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).
RESULTS: The evidence to date indicates that cultural differences in vasomotor symptom reporting on surveys reflect both differences in the underlying biology, which ar likely to influence vasomotor symptom occurrence, and differences in nonbiologic sociocultural factors such as attitudes toward menopause, which are likely to be related to vasomotor symptom perception and reporting.
CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider interactions of culture and biology in studies of vasomotor symptoms. Recommendations for future studies include using both open- and closed-ended questions, including measurements of objective indicators such as reproductive hormone concentrations, measuring both culturally related biologic and nonbiologic factors related to vasomotor symptom occurrence or reporting, and using the same general study protocol for multiple cultural groups being compared.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Menopause. 2007 Jul-Aug;14(4):725-33. Link to article on publisher's site
Related Resources
PubMed ID
17279061
