Affective Temperament Traits as Predictors of Menopausal Symptom Severity in the Late Menopausal Transition and Early Postmenopause

AIM: This study examined the role of affective temperament traits as stable psychological vulnerability factors for menopausal symptom severity during the late menopausal transition and early postmenopause. METHODS: A total of 105 women aged 40-55 years meeting STRAW+10 criteria for stages -1, +1a, or +1b were included. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and affective temperaments were evaluated with the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). Correlation analyses and multivariable linear regression models were used to identify independent predictors of menopausal symptom severity. RESULTS: Mean MRS total score was 18.37 ± 8.65, and 59.0% of participants reported severe symptoms. Anxious temperament showed the strongest correlations with somatic (r = 0.470), psychological (r = 0.574), urogenital (r = 0.300), and total MRS scores (r = 0.570; all p < 0.01). In multivariable analyses, anxious temperament independently predicted somatic, psychological, and total symptom scores, while irritable temperament independently predicted urogenital symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Anxious and irritable affective temperaments are significant independent predictors of menopausal symptom severity. Assessing temperament profiles may help identify women at increased risk for heightened symptom perception and support individualized counseling during the menopausal transition. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06972290.