Reclaiming agency: how women build mood, confidence and social connections during perimenopause.

IF 3.9 4区医学 Q1 OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Climacteric Pub Date : 2026-10-12 DOI:10.1080/13697137.2026.2736441

Sharmila Kumar, Siham Bardouh, Rutvi Vyas, Sawsan Dergham, Ann Dadich

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to understand women's lived experiences of perimenopause, with reference to brain fog, mood, confidence and social connectedness, and identify opportunities to promote well-being.

Method: A qualitative, exploratory study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 30 midlife women in Australia from culturally diverse backgrounds. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Participants described perimenopause as a recurring disruption-stabilization cycle rather than a linear decline. Destabilization was often triggered by sleep loss, cumulative life load and symptom variability, shaping appraisals of mood and confidence. Brain fog was experienced as cognitive disruption accompanied by fatigue and self-doubt, commonly worsened by stress, poor sleep and diet. Participants actively engineered stability using individualized, multi-component strategies, including pacing and withdrawal, sleep optimization, physical activity and well-being practices, organizational and compensatory tools, acceptance and reframing, dietary adjustments, leisure and cognitive stimulation, and social support. Social connectedness was recalibrated, with shifts in engagement, mixed experiences of support versus misunderstanding and a strong preference for validating spaces and relationships.

Conclusion: Perimenopause was experienced as dynamic yet manageable through structured self-management and supportive contexts. Findings support holistic, multimodal care that integrates symptom management with sleep, behavioral, cognitive and social interventions.

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回收代理：女性如何在围绝经期建立情绪、自信和社会关系。

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来源期刊

Climacteric 医学-妇产科学

CiteScore

1.70

自引率

7.10%

发文量

审稿时长

1 months

期刊介绍： Climacteric is the official journal of the International Menopause Society (IMS). As an international peer-reviewed journal it publishes original research and reviews of all aspects of aging in women. Climacteric was founded by the IMS in 1998 and today has become a leading journal in the publication of peer-reviewed papers on the menopause, climacteric and mid-life health. Topics covered include endocrine changes, symptoms attributed to the menopause and their treatment, hormone replacement and alternative therapies, lifestyles, and the counselling and education of peri- and postmenopausal women. Climacteric, published bimonthly, also features regular invited reviews, editorials and commentaries on recent developments. The editorial review board of Climacteric includes leading scientific and clinical experts in the field of midlife medicine and research and is headed by its Editor-in-Chief, Professor Rod Baber of Australia. He and his team of Associate Editors act independently to set a clear editorial policy, co-ordinate peer review, and ensure a rapid response to submitted papers.