A Lifespan Biological Model of Menopause |
| |
Authors: | Paula S Derry |
| |
Institution: | (1) Paula Derry Enterprises in Health Psychology, 4811 Crowson Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21212, USA |
| |
Abstract: | This paper continues the author's theoretical reconsideration of the biology of menopause (Derry, 2002). The author's broader-biological theoretical model of menopause, the Lifespan Biological Model, asserts that menopause is best understood by considering the biology of healthy systems. The biological subfield of life history theory combined with the psychological subfield of lifespan development provides a useful starting point to understand the biology of menopause. When compared with other mammals, humans have unusual life stages, one of which is a post-reproductive stage of relatively healthy, competent adulthood. Implications of the model are discussed with regard to conceptualizing: menopause as normal versus pathological; the arc of development as childhood growth/adult stability/aging senescence versus lifespan developmental; and the relation of menopause to chronic disease, especially osteoporosis. |
| |
Keywords: | Menopause Women's health Life history theory Adult development |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|