Objective: To Compare psychological changes in working and non-working women during menopause.

Materials: This study was conducted on working and non-working rural women of Nanded city from Marathawada region of Maharashtra state, age range between 40-50 years. Total 150 sample was purposively selected out of which 75 working and 75 non-working women. A questionnaire schedule was developed through pilot study with different questions for obtaining information on the personal characteristic such as family size, type of family, age, educational status of the family etc and 16 psychological symptoms was selected. Data was tabulated and percentage, mean, standard deviation (SD) and ‘t’ value was calculated.

Results: The average age of menopause was 44.26 years in working women and 44.96 years in non-working women. Most common psychological symptom in rural working women was irritability (77.3%) followed by tiredness 76.3%, forgetfulness 72% and depression 62.7% as compaired to non-working rural women. whereas in non-working women most common psychological symptoms was anxiety (70%), followed by confused (60%), mood swing 39.7% and lack of interest in work 36% as compaired to working women.

Conclusion: Following comparative study on psychological changes during menopause concluded that working rural women have more psychological symptoms compaired to non-working women secondary to work stress.