Master's Thesis submitted to the Faculty Sacred Heart University Nursing Program in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree Master of Science in Nursing.

Thesis (MSN)--Sacred Heart University

Includes bibliographical references.

A descriptive, comparative, non-experimental study was performed to examine the relationship of perimenopausal women's attitude between menopause and health locus of control. The population of women were patients in a private gynecology practice with a sample of 25 women (n=25). Data were gathered from three self-reported questionnaires, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLOC), a woman's health related behavior, Menopause Attitude Scale(MAS), a woman's attitude toward menopause; and a demographics and health care characteristics questionnaire. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was used to determine if a relationship existed between a woman's health locus of control and her attitude towards menopause. No positive relationship was found between internal health locus of control beliefs and attitude towards menopause (r-{21} = .325,p> .05). No negative relationship was found to exist between beliefs in control of health by change and attitude toward menopause (r.{21} = -.249.p> .05). Reasons for these findings may be related to the study group. the age and menopausal stage of the study groups, and the change in attitude about menopause over the past fifty years, An attempt was also made to liik at factors that influenced a woman's decisions to take HRT. The study population using HRT was too small to make an conclusions. The importance of menopausal and HRT education for women to prevent CVD, osteoporosis, dementia and Alzheimer Disease are discussed as are recommendations for qualitative research concerning healthy mid-life women and minority women, The importance of providing patient education about menopause and hormone replacement therapy by advanced nurse practitioners is stressed as being essential to holistic primary care practice.