A qualitative study exploring women’s experiences of their mental health during perimenopause and menopause

Bennetts, Kieta

Abstract

The study of women’s mental health during perimenopause and menopause is pivotal in understanding the needs of women and for supporting their overall wellbeing and quality of life during this life phase. However, despite its importance, this area remains largely under-researched, necessitating further exploration. The aim of this study was to explore women's experiences of perimenopause and menopause in relation to their mental health for the purpose of developing an understanding of the complexities of mental health during this transitional phase. Responses from 79 qualitative surveys and 8 semi-structured interviews were collected and analysed thematically within a critical realist framework. Four themes were identified. The first theme, ‘“what is wrong with me?”: complexities of sense making’, reports on how mental health can be influenced or exacerbated by an absence of education and awareness of perimenopause/menopause. The second theme, ‘“someone other than myself”: crises of identity’, highlights the process of identity transition through peri/menopause, illustrating how this adjustment can impact women’s emotional and interpersonal experiences. In the third theme, ‘the impact of mental health during peri/menopause: “Existing, not living”’, women recounted experiences of psychological distress, with some describing its severity, including a small number expressing suicidal ideation. The final theme, ‘women’s experiences of help seeking: “stuck me on antidepressants”’, reports on women’s experiences of seeking support for signs and symptoms associated with peri/menopause, including for their mental health. Three themes contained one subtheme. These findings contribute to current understandings of mental health during peri/menopause, underscoring the necessity for increased awareness and education among healthcare practitioners, including counselling psychologists, as well as among women themselves.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Mar 25, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 1, 2024
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11841485
• Award Date: Oct 1, 2024