AGE-DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD MENOPAUSE AND ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY

The purpose of the present study was to develop and test attitude scal es for menopause and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) using 116 coll ege-aged and 136 mid-aged women. Factor scores indicate that mid-aged women view menopause in a more benign fashion than college-aged women and are more likely to view ERT as positive while recognizing side eff ects. Restricted variability on ERT attitude items suggests limited kn owledge or opinions and a need for education across ages. Women's perc eptions of ERT are in terms of a solution for immediate relief of symp toms in contrast to current medical recommendations that emphasize ERT as long-term disease prevention therapy.