Menopause is a long period of life characterized by the permanent termination of the
menstrual cycle due to the cessation of ovarian functions. It is the most important midlife
crisis in which special physical and psychological differences occur, often associated with a
decrease in estrogen levels. Although the natural age of menopause varies, it usually ranges
from 40 to 58 years, and the average age of menopause is accepted as 51. When the average
life expectancy of women is accepted as 80 years, women spend about a third or more of their
life in the postmenopausal period.
Along with the decrease in estrogen during menopause, symptoms related to hot flashes, night
sweats, palpitations, irritability and sleep disorders are common. Especially sleep disorders
are higher than in the premenopausal period. It has been reported that approximately 40-60%
of menopausal women have sleep-related symptoms with night awakenings as the most common
complaint. In the study of Lima et al. in which they included 819 climacteric women in
Brazil; Deterioration in sleep quality was detected in 67% of the sample, more prominently in
postmenopausal women. The most common complaints during menopause are deterioration of sleep
quality and chronic insomnia. Untreated sleep disorders and menopausal symptoms adversely
affect health and especially reduce quality of life. When the literature is examined, poor
sleep quality and insufficient sleep duration; hormonal changes, poor physical health,
obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, irritability, physical and mental burnout, and
poor quality of life, such as short-term and long-term outcomes. It is stated that the
symptoms seen in the menopausal period negatively affect the quality of life of women.
Although the effective treatment to be used to solve the sleep problems experienced during
the menopause period, reduce the menopausal symptoms and improve the quality of life is
medication or hormonal therapy, the use of non-pharmacological methods is increasing due to
the potential side effects of these treatments and the harm outweighing the benefit. Some of
these methods are music, yoga, aromatherapy, therapeutic massage, physical exercise, sleep
hygiene education, therapeutic touch, acupressure, acupuncture and cognitive behavioral
therapy methods.
Therapeutic touch, which is among the non-pharmacological methods that have started to be
preferred in recent years, is the interpretation of an ancient healing experience in the
modern age. It is a non-invasive nursing intervention that channels energy using the hands.
There are no known side effects associated with the use of therapeutic touch. Therapeutic
touch is beneficial in reducing anxiety, pain and depression, and increasing relaxation and
well-being.Therefore, this calming effect of therapeutic touch also facilitates falling
asleep and can improve quality of life by easing menopausal symptoms. Another widely used
non-pharmacological method is recital. Perceived calming music lowers catecholamine levels,
respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure. Therefore, by roviding physiological and
psychological relaxation, music helps individuals to sleep better, reduce menopausal
symptoms, and improve quality of life. In a meta analysis study, it was determined that
listening to calming music effectively improved sleep quality.
When the literature was examined, no study was found that examined the effects of therapeutic
touch and music listening on sleep quality, menopausal symptoms and menopausal quality of
life in menopausal women. It is thought that the findings obtained from the research will
contribute to the literature. Based on all these, the aim of this study is to examine the
effects of therapeutic touch and music listening on sleep quality, menopausal symptoms and
quality of life in menopausal women.
Purpose Of The Study The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of therapeutic touch
and music listening on sleep quality, menopausal symptoms and quality of life in menopausal
women.
Research Hypotheses H10: Therapeutic touch does not affect sleep quality in menopausal women
H11: Therapeutic touch affects sleep quality in menopausal women H20: Therapeutic touch does
not affect menopausal symptoms in menopausal women H21: Therapeutic touch affects menopausal
symptoms in menopausal women H30: Therapeutic touch does not affect quality of life in
menopausal women H31: Therapeutic touch affects quality of life in menopausal women H40:
Music listening does not affect sleep quality in menopausal women H41: Listening to music
affects sleep quality in menopausal women H50: Listening to music does not affect menopausal
symptoms in menopausal women H51: Listening to music affects menopausal symptoms in
menopausal women H60: Music listening does not affect quality of life in menopausal women
H61: Music listening affects quality of life in menopausal women