Abstract
The menopausal transition is often accompanied by physical, psychological, and sexual challenges that significantly affect women’s quality of life. The present study examined the predictive relationship of self-compassion and female sexual distress with the severity of menopausal symptoms among married women. Using a correlational research design, data were collected from 100 married women aged 45–50 years experiencing premenopausal symptoms. Participants were selected through purposive sampling from community settings and gynecology wards. Measures included the Urdu version of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF), and an indigenously developed Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and simple linear regression through SPSS (version 26). Results indicated that self-compassion significantly and negatively predicted the severity of menopausal symptoms, whereas female sexual distress significantly and positively predicted menopausal symptom severity. The findings suggest that self-compassion may serve as a protective psychological factor, while sexual distress functions as a risk factor during the menopausal transition. Results indicated that self-compassion negatively predicted the severity of menopausal symptoms (F=10.2, df-1, 98, p<.01) and female sexual distress positively predicted the severity of menopausal symptoms (F=33.3, df=1, 98, p<.01). The study highlights the importance of psychological interventions aimed at enhancing self-compassion and addressing sexual distress among menopausal women, particularly within the Pakistani cultural context.