Moving more for mental well-being in menopause: development of workplace intervention strategies

2021年，苏格兰政府启动了一项妇女健康计划，承认有必要更好地支持约40万名更年期妇女。更年期症状会对妇女的工作经历产生负面影响，就业率/出勤率较低与许多更年期症状有关。有精神健康症状的妇女受到的不利影响最大。虽然有大量证据表明，达到建议的体育锻炼水平对心理健康有重大好处，但国家监测数据显示，许多苏格兰妇女不运动，在更年期前后明显减少。在与合作伙伴SAMH（苏格兰心理健康协会）现有成功工作关系的基础上，该博士项目的总体目标是开发工作场所资源，以支持更年期生活阶段的妇女进行身体活动并增强其心理健康。这一目标将通过三项研究来实现，包括：对现有证据进行系统审查；对女性更年期经历、心理健康和工作场所体力活动的定性探索；还有一项合作研究，以开发干预资源工具箱。这些以证据为基础的干预资源很可能是博士学位非常受欢迎的产品，准备由合作伙伴传播。该奖学金将支持学生发展一系列研究技能，为他们未来的研究生涯做好准备（即系统审查，定性方法，合作生产，干预设计，敏感数据管理，知识交流和传播）。导师在干预发展方面拥有丰富的专业知识，以支持体育活动行为的改变，并且凭借他们成功的博士指导和外部合作的记录，他们是支持学生的理想人选。SAMH将通过定期就研究方向进行磋商，通过其网络支持参与者招募，共同生产干预产出，以及知识交流和影响机会，在该学生项目中发挥核心作用。莱尔·菲兹蒙斯（第二主管）

In 2021, the Scottish Government launched a Women's Health Plan, acknowledging the need to better support the ~400,000 women of menopausal age. Menopausal symptoms can have a negative impact on women's work experiences, with lower employment rates/attendance associated with a number of menopausal symptoms. Women with mental health symptoms are most adversely affected. Whilst there is substantial evidence that meeting recommended physical activity levels has significant mental health benefits, national surveillance data shows many Scottish women are inactive, with a clear decrease evident around the menopause life stage. Building on an existing successful working relationship with the collaborating partner SAMH (the Scottish Association for Mental Health), the overall aim of this PhD project is to develop workplace resources to support women during the menopause life stage to be physically active and enhance their mental wellbeing. This aim will be achieved through three studies including: a systematic review of existing evidence; a qualitative exploration of women's experiences of menopause, mental wellbeing and physical activity in the workplace; and a co-production study to develop a toolbox of intervention resources. These evidence-based intervention resources are likely to be highly sought-after products from the PhD, ready for dissemination by the collaborating partner. The studentship will support the student to develop a range of research skills that will equip them well for a future research career (i.e., systematic reviewing, qualitative methods, co-production, intervention design, management of sensitive data, knowledge exchange and dissemination). The supervisors have substantial expertise on intervention development to support physical activity behaviour change, and with their track record of successful doctoral supervision and external collaboration, are ideally placed to support the student. SAMH will play a central role in this studentship, through regular consultation on research direction, supporting participant recruitment through their networks, co-producing intervention outputs, and knowledge exchange and impact opportunities. laire Fitzimons (second supervisor)