A recent study has found that women’s anger levels decrease with age, particularly during the menopause transition. The research suggests that hormonal and emotional changes during this period may be responsible for this shift. While depression is a more commonly studied topic during perimenopause, this new analysis focused on how women deal with heightened emotions like anger.
Research has shown that traits linked to anger tend to decline significantly in midlife, with studies linking anger to cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Women who experience increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure due to their anger are at a higher risk of developing heart disease.
However, the study’s findings also reveal an unexpected upside: women’s temper may become softer as they age. The researchers found that chronological age was significantly related to most anger measures, including anger temperament, anger reaction, and hostility. These forms of anger decreased significantly with age, except for anger suppression, which was not related to age.
The study’s authors suggest that better emotion regulation may occur during midlife, leading to a decrease in anger and an improvement in overall quality of life. This is particularly significant given the often-ignored aspect of menopause: its impact on mental health. Fluctuations in hormone levels can cause severe mood swings, and educating women about these changes can help them manage symptoms.
The study’s results are published in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society, and highlight the need for further research into how women deal with heightened emotions during this period.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/midlife-mood-shift-study-says-anger-drops-after-50