Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41186583›Full record

ArticleMenopause (New York, N.Y.)2026

Moving through menopause: a mixed methods study of UK women's experiences of being physically active during the menopause life stage.

Ailsa G Niven, Tessa Strain, Janis Reid, Divya Sivaramakrishnan, Nanette Mutrie, Claire Fitzsimons

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ailsa G NivenPhysical Activity for Health Research Centre, Institute Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4118-7460
Tessa StrainPhysical Activity for Health Research Centre, Institute Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, UK.
Janis ReidPhysical Activity for Health Research Centre, Institute Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, UK.
Divya SivaramakrishnanScottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP) School of Health in Social Science University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Nanette MutriePhysical Activity for Health Research Centre, Institute Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, UK.
Claire FitzsimonsPhysical Activity for Health Research Centre, Institute Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6192-1397

Funding

Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThere is growing evidence for the benefits of physical activity during the menopause life stage. However, limited research has explored physical activity behavior of UK women. Using a mixed-methods approach, 2 phases of research were undertaken to: (1) assess physical activity levels and examine the relationship with menopausal symptoms, and (2) use the COM-B theoretical framework to understand the influence of "Capability, Opportunity and Motivation" on physical activity Behavior.

methodsIn phase 1, participants completed an online survey (n = 655; mean age = 49.9 y). Descriptive analyses were supplemented with χ 2 tests, with Bonferroni correction. In phase 2, 4 online focus groups (n = 24; mean age = 52.7 y) were undertaken and thematically analyzed.

resultsIn phase 1, 75% reported achieving 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity/week, although 57% reported activity levels had decreased during the menopause life stage. Twelve out of 14 symptoms were experienced by >50%, with changes in mood and brain fog most common (>80%). There was no significant difference in the proportion meeting the moderate to vigorous physical activity guidelines between those women who did or did not experience individual symptoms, although for 10/14 symptoms, >50% indicated a negative impact on likelihood to engage in activity. In phase 2, capability (eg, menopausal symptoms), opportunity (eg, social support), and motivation (eg, low confidence) were all influential on behavior.

conclusionThese findings enhance our understanding of UK women's experiences of being physically active during the menopause, and provide insight into potential intervention strategies to support women to be active at that time.

Indexed as

ExerciseMenopauseAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHot FlashesHumansMiddle AgedMotivationSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited KingdomBehavior change theoryMenopauseMixed methodsPhysical activityWomen’s health

Identifiers

PMID41186583
PMCPMC12854362

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.