The relationship of vaginal aging with daily life and aging anxiety inperimenopausal women

This study aimed to examine the relationship between vaginal aging and daily life and aging anxiety in perimenopausal women. The study was descriptive and correlational in nature, and data were collected online via social media from 345 women aged 40-59. Data were collected using the 'Personal Information Form', 'Daily Impact of Vaginal Aging Scale (DAAG)' and 'Aging Anxiety Scale in Middle-Aged Women (MAA)'. Ethical permission was obtained before the study. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 25 program was used to analyze the data and was evaluated with appropriate tests. The mean age of the women was 46.73±4.95. 93% of the women were married and 26.7% had a college/university education. The mean scores of the women on the sub-dimensions (Activities of Daily Living, Emotional Well-being, Sexual Function, Self-Concept and Body Image) were determined as 1.85±0.86, 1.26±1.04, 1.28±1.16, and 0.84±0.85, respectively. The mean scores of the women on the MAA total score and sub-dimensions (Physical Inadequacy, Anxiety About Changes in Appearance, Social Value, Negative Expectations About Old Age) were determined as 52.65±14.35, 12.62±4.06, 10.52±4.27, 20.58±7.92, and 8.94±2.99, respectively. A positive and significant correlation was found between the MAA sub-dimension scores and the DAAG score. DAAG positively predicts aging anxiety and it was determined that it explains %26 of the total variance (R2=0,256). In conclusion, the increase in the daily effects of vaginal aging in perimenopausal women increases the level of aging anxiety. Keywords: Anxiety; nursing; middle age; midwifery; perimenopause; vaginal aging