Abstract
Midlife represents a dynamic and often disorienting transition for women, marked by the convergence of menopause, shifting family roles, and evolving professional identities. This mixed-methods study explores how women navigate these intersecting experiences, particularly focusing on the impact of menopausal symptoms on motherhood, work, and relational well-being.
Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 42 women aged 39–57. Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s framework, integrating inductive and deductive coding strategies. Themes were identified and refined through an iterative analytic process, ensuring credibility and depth through careful attention to patterns and meaning across participant narratives. Four key themes emerged: (1) emotional strain in parenting, with participants describing reduced patience and connection due to fatigue and mood fluctuations; (2) the invisible labor of caregiving, as women continued to manage household and emotional responsibilities amid physical changes; (3) identity recalibration, involving reflection on personal, maternal, and professional roles; and (4) the protective role of close relationships in coping with menopausal symptoms.
Quantitative findings from a broader sample of xxx women supported these themes. Relationship satisfaction, measured by the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI), and perceived social support, assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, and overall symptom burden, as measured by the Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ). Strongest correlations were observed for total symptom burden (τb = -0.292 to -0.303, p < .001), with family support emerging as the most robust protective factor, suggesting that emotional and social resources meaningfully buffer the psychological and cognitive impacts of menopause.
While the sample primarily included cisgender, caregiving women and may not reflect all midlife experiences, the study underscores the importance of addressing both physiological and psychosocial factors in menopause care. Integrating emotional support, relationship quality, and work-life considerations into health interventions can foster resilience and improve quality of life for women during this transformative life stage.
Notes
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References:
Avis, N. E., Crawford, S. L., Greendale, G., Bromberger, J. T., Everson-Rose, S. A., Gold, E. B., Hess, R., Joffe, H., Kravitz, H. M., Tepper, P. G., & Thurston, R. C. (2015). Duration of Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms Over the Menopause Transition. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(4), 531. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063
Canty-Mitchell, J., & Zimet, G. D. (2000). Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Urban Adolescents. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28(3), 391–400. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005109522457
Chyu, L., & Upchurch, D. M. (2018). A Longitudinal Analysis of Allostatic Load among a Multi-Ethnic Sample of Midlife Women: Findings from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Women’s Health Issues, 28(3), 258–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2017.11.002
Daminger, A. (2019). The Cognitive Dimension of Household Labor. American Sociological Review, 84(4), 609–633. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122419859007
Funk, J. L., & Rogge, R. D. (2007). Testing the ruler with item response theory: Increasing precision of measurement for relationship satisfaction with the Couples Satisfaction Index. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(4), 572–583. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.21.4.572
Hunter, M. (2024). The Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ): The Development, Standardization and Application of a Measure of Mid-Aged Women’s Emotional and Physical Health.
Johnson, M. D., Maroto, M., Galambos, N. L., & Krahn, H. J. (2024). Who’s doing more and when? Gender, parenting, and housework trajectories. Journal of Family Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001219
Johnson, M. D., Somerville, S. D., Galambos, N. L., & Krahn, H. J. (2020). Stuck in the middle with you: Predictors of commitment in midlife. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 44(3), 273–278. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025419885025
Lachman, M. E. (2015). Mind the Gap in the Middle: A Call to Study Midlife. Research in Human Development, 12(3–4), 327–334. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2015.1068048
Rouxel, P., Chandola, T., Kumari, M., Seeman, T., & Benzeval, M. (2022). Biological costs and benefits of social relationships for men and women in adulthood: The role of partner, family and friends. Sociology of Health & Illness, 44(1), 5–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13386
Verdonk, P., Bendien, E., & Appelman, Y. (2022). Menopause and work: A narrative literature review about menopause, work and health. Work, 72(2), 483–496. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-205214
Sigma Membership
Iota Epsilon
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Primary Care, Menopause, Work-Life Balance, Psychology of Women, Family Relations, Reflection (Philosophy), Aging, Women's Health, Mid-Life Crisis
Recommended Citation
Ness, Michelle M., "Navigating the Midlife Shift: Menopause, Motherhood, and Meaning in Women’s Lives" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 314.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/314
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-26
Navigating the Midlife Shift: Menopause, Motherhood, and Meaning in Women’s Lives
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Midlife represents a dynamic and often disorienting transition for women, marked by the convergence of menopause, shifting family roles, and evolving professional identities. This mixed-methods study explores how women navigate these intersecting experiences, particularly focusing on the impact of menopausal symptoms on motherhood, work, and relational well-being.
Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 42 women aged 39–57. Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s framework, integrating inductive and deductive coding strategies. Themes were identified and refined through an iterative analytic process, ensuring credibility and depth through careful attention to patterns and meaning across participant narratives. Four key themes emerged: (1) emotional strain in parenting, with participants describing reduced patience and connection due to fatigue and mood fluctuations; (2) the invisible labor of caregiving, as women continued to manage household and emotional responsibilities amid physical changes; (3) identity recalibration, involving reflection on personal, maternal, and professional roles; and (4) the protective role of close relationships in coping with menopausal symptoms.
Quantitative findings from a broader sample of xxx women supported these themes. Relationship satisfaction, measured by the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI), and perceived social support, assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, and overall symptom burden, as measured by the Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ). Strongest correlations were observed for total symptom burden (τb = -0.292 to -0.303, p < .001), with family support emerging as the most robust protective factor, suggesting that emotional and social resources meaningfully buffer the psychological and cognitive impacts of menopause.
While the sample primarily included cisgender, caregiving women and may not reflect all midlife experiences, the study underscores the importance of addressing both physiological and psychosocial factors in menopause care. Integrating emotional support, relationship quality, and work-life considerations into health interventions can foster resilience and improve quality of life for women during this transformative life stage.
Description
This mixed-methods study explores how women experience the menopause transition across motherhood, work, and relationships. Through qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data, the research highlights how menopausal symptoms impact parenting, identity, and professional roles. Findings underscore the protective effects of relationship satisfaction and social support, especially from family, in reducing symptom burden, and emphasize the need for informed, holistic care during midlife.