Stress, Resilience and Wellbeing in Menopause

The menopausal transition is not solely a biological event but a complex biopsychosocial stage in women’s lives, in which hormonal, neuroendocrine and metabolic changes interact with psychological, behavioural, social and cultural factors. These changes often coincide with multiple sources of stress linked to body composition, physical functioning, energy and vitality, self-perception, family and social roles, caregiving, loss, loneliness, interpersonal relationships and perceptions of ageing. Their convergence may shape women’s vulnerability and responses to stress, contributing to anxiety, sleep disturbances, affective symptoms and reduced wellbeing. These dimensions have been widely studied, but often separately, limiting our understanding of how biological, psychological and social processes interact. Women also differ markedly in their responses: some experience substantial distress, while others adapt well. Understanding both vulnerability and resilience therefore requires an integrated biopsychosocial perspective on menopausal mental health.

This Research Topic aims to bring together multidisciplinary research on the biological, psychological, behavioural and social factors that influence women’s vulnerability and responses to stress during the menopausal transition. Two questions guide the collection: what increases vulnerability to stress during menopause, and what promotes resilience and wellbeing? We aim to explore how neuroendocrine, hormonal and metabolic changes interact with stress, anxiety, sleep, mood, menopausal symptoms, lifestyle and major life transitions to shape individual responses. Equally important is the protective role of psychological resources, social support and connectedness, meaningful relationships, physical activity, healthy lifestyle behaviours, coping and stress-management strategies, and how family, social and cultural contexts shape these processes. By integrating evidence on vulnerability and protective factors, this Research Topic seeks to move beyond a symptom-centred view and identify modifiable factors and interventions that support resilience and healthier adaptation.

Suitable themes for manuscripts include, but are not limited to:
• Stress, anxiety and affective health during menopause, including factors associated with vulnerability and individual variability;
• Sleep disturbances and their psychological correlates, including interactions with stress, anxiety, mood and menopausal symptoms;
• Neuroendocrine and hormonal mechanisms of stress and resilience, including the HPA axis and stress-related biomarkers;
• Metabolic, inflammatory and physiological factors associated with stress vulnerability and adaptation;
• Social connectedness, social support, loneliness and interpersonal relationships as modulators of resilience and wellbeing;
• Midlife transitions and changing roles as sources of stress, including caregiving, loss, identity and purpose in life;
• Lifestyle and behavioural factors, including physical activity and sleep behaviours, associated with stress regulation and resilience;
• Coping, emotional regulation and stress-management strategies, and psychological, behavioural and mind-body interventions;
• Quality of life, positive psychological functioning and healthy adaptation during menopause;
• Social, cultural and population perspectives, including cultural beliefs, socioeconomic factors, health literacy and cross-cultural differences.