A recent U.S. study has revealed a compelling emotional paradox among women approaching midlife: their experience of anger intensifies, but their willingness or ability to express it tends to decline.

Published in the medical journal Menopause, the research is based on findings from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study, which tracked the emotional and physical health of 271 women between the ages of 35 and 55 over several years.

Participants were largely educated, employed, and from middle-class backgrounds, with an average starting age of 41.6 years. Researchers found that anger peaked during the late reproductive years — just before the onset of menopause. However, as women entered the menopausal transition, they reported expressing their anger less frequently, despite still feeling it strongly.

The decline in outward expression was interpreted as a sign of increased emotional regulation. “Women seem to develop greater control over how they outwardly respond to anger, even as the emotion itself becomes more intense,” the researchers noted.

Interestingly, one constant across the study was the tendency for women to suppress their anger. The researchers highlighted this ongoing repression as a potential mental health concern, warning that long-term emotional suppression can carry psychological risks and deserves further exploration.

The study contributes to a growing understanding of the emotional complexities women face during perimenopause and menopause. Experts say the findings highlight the need for better mental health integration in midlife care — not only to support emotional well-being but also to address the quiet toll of unexpressed emotions.

As conversations around midlife health continue to evolve, the study urges healthcare providers and society alike to take a more holistic view of women’s emotional experiences — validating their anger, supporting healthier outlets, and recognizing the silent burdens they may carry.