Andropause representations: a mixed-methods study with portuguese women

Since psychosocial factors have some impact on andropause, and this phenomenon can affect conjugal relationships (and women tend to be health information seekers) it becomes important to study the representations of andropause using the Common-Sense Model -a model used to understand the representations of menopause.This research aimed to assess Portuguese women's representations of andropause, the suitability of the Common-Sense Model in explaining those representations, and to explore differences among participants with different characteristics (e.g., level of education), regarding andropause representations.Interviews to 30 women were analysed (directed qualitative content analysis).A multiple correspondence analysis explored the association between the emergent categories.Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to test differences regarding the frequency of emergent categories.Undefined identity was the most frequently mentioned feature regarding andropause Identity, whereas Sexual Function was the most mentioned Negative Consequence; few Positive Consequences were mentioned, being the Absence of positives consequences and the Lack of information the most frequent ones.Two bidimensional models were found -one for Identity of andropause: (1) Aging related changes, and (2) Sexual changes/lack of information; the other for Negative Consequences: (1) Symptoms/health problems, and (2) Depression/lack of information.No differences were found in the frequency of andropause representations between women with different characteristics (e.g., with a romantic relationship vs. without a romantic relationship).The suitability of the Common-Sense Model to explain these women's andropause representations did not differ among participants with distinctive characteristics.This research may help healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive interventions (based on this theoretical model) in order to help couples to better understand and cope with andropause.