Validation of the Perimenopause Symptom Scale (Peri-SS) for Digital Self-Assessment: Psychometric Evaluation Among U.S. Women Aged 35 to 59 years
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Background
Perimenopause is a transitional life stage that ultimately affects all women with ovaries, yet it remains under-recognized in clinical care and poorly measured by existing tools. Most symptom scales were designed for postmenopausal populations, overlooking the unique and fluctuating symptom profiles that emerge in perimenopause. This gap hinders early recognition and timely intervention.
Objective
To address this unmet need, we developed and validated the Perimenopause Symptom Scale (Peri-SS): a concise, phase-specific, and psychometrically robust instrument intended for digital self-assessment and research use among U.S. women aged 35-59 who self-reported in perimenopause.
Methods
We conducted a longitudinal validation study with a final analytic sample of 1,255 U.S. women aged 35-59 (633 identified as perimenopausal) recruited from an online survey platform Prolific. Participants completed the Peri-SS along with the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and EuroQol 5-Dimension, 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) at baseline and again 7-14 days later. We assessed structural validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, criterion and construct validity, and responsiveness to change, following COSMIN guidelines.
Results
The Peri-SS demonstrated strong psychometric performance. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a four-domain structure (vasomotor, psychological, sexual, physical), with excellent model fit (CFI = 0.932, RMSEA = 0.069). Internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.90 overall; domain range 0.73-0.86), and test-retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.82). Criterion validity was strong, with Peri-SS scores being highly correlated with MRS (r = 0.88). Construct validity was supported through moderate correlations with EQ-5D-5L utilities (ρ = –0.50) and effective discrimination between known groups by age, menopausal status, and hormone therapy use. The scale was also responsive to symptom changes over time (η 2 = 0.277).
Conclusion
The Peri-SS is a reliable, valid, and responsive tool for assessing symptom burden in perimenopause. Its concise format and strong psychometric performance make it well-suited for research, clinical care, and digital health applications.
