SPICE-up your life: The Study of Positive experiences, Interventions and Challenges in Everyday female life
Type of research: Longitudinal Intensive Methods
ECs Both 14 and 23 EC thesis possible
Description:
Women face many challenges in midlife which makes it a challenge to stay physically and mentally healthy. However, many research regarding pregnancy, changing roles and the transition to menopause is medicalized, lacking in particular longitudinal and qualitative research regarding positive aspects such as wellbeing, meaning in life and positive attitudes towards menopause. With the SPICE-consortium we want to change this (see www.spice-consortium.nl).
In the past years, different datasets have been collected that can be used to know more about women’s mental health, in particular regarding the menopausal transition. Menopause is an inevitable life transition affecting millions of women worldwide. Although it is a natural process, many symptoms such as hot flashes, depressive feelings and fatigue can persist for an average of eight years, causing significant suffering in daily life. The symptom profile varies for each woman and frequently overlaps with other hormonal and psychological conditions, such as premenstrual syndrome, burnout, depression and anxiety.
Available datasets:
- One-year longitudinal study with 4 waves (from >300 to 100 participants over time). In every wave mental wellbeing, meaning in life, basic needs and open “check-in” question. In two waves information about menopausal symptoms, experiences and attitudes; in one wave questions regarding pregnancy, miscarriage, desired and involuntary childless, expectations and attitudes motherhood, family and social ties, menstruation, PMS, contraception, breastfeeding, mental illness (anxiety, depression, stress, burnout) and life events. Combination of closed and open questions, so both quantitative and qualitative analyses possible.
- Cross-sectional datasets on women’s mental health (400 participants), mental health and use and experiences with (bio-identical) hormone therapy treatment (data currently collected), and interviews on menopausal experiences (n=52).
Example research questions are:
• Which symptom profiles can be identified among women aged 40-60 years?
• What aspects of pregnancy, breastfeeding and motherhood predicts enhanced levels of mental health symptoms during the menopausal transition?
• What are reasons for women to (not) use (bio)identical hormone therapy for mental health issues (during the menopausal transition)? What are their expectations and experiences?