The menopausal transition and women's workplace identity: A qualitative systematic review
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Date
2026-05-11
Authors
Wall, Stephanie
Dempsey, Maria
Dockray, Samantha
Foley, Sarah
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Abstract
Background: The menopausal transition is a significant life stage characterised by complex biological, psychological, and social changes, often coinciding with a period of career consolidation or advancement. While research on menopause in the workplace is expanding, it focuses predominantly on symptoms and productivity. However, work is an important psychological and social space in which women construct and sustain professional identity. Emerging qualitative studies suggest menopausal symptoms can challenge self-trust, disrupt coherence in the professional self, and influence career trajectory. To date, no systematic review has synthesised evidence on how the menopausal transition shapes women's workplace identities. Objectives: Synthesise existing qualitative evidence on how the menopausal transition shapes women's workplace identities and how identity change is managed within organisational contexts. Design: Systematic review and thematic synthesis. Data sources and methods: Six electronic databases and Google Scholar were systematically searched, supplemented by targeted website and reference list screening. Eligible studies included peri- or postmenopausal women, examined workplace identity, and reported original qualitative data. Results: Nine studies involving 332 women across diverse occupational and cultural contexts were included. Analytical themes were: (1) menopause destabilises the professional self; (2) professional identity as ongoing identity management; and (3) cultural and structural contexts shape identity work. Conclusion: The menopausal transition can be understood as an identity-relevant work-life stage in which professional selves become fragile and require renegotiation. Clinical and organisational responses should address identity disruption alongside symptom management by supporting women's sense of belonging at work and fostering cultures and policies that reduce stigma. © 2026 The Authors
Description
© 2026, the Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ).
Keywords
Employment , Menopause , Professional identity , Thematic synthesis , Workplace identity , [AppliedPsychology]
Citation
Wall, S, Dempsey, M, Dockray, S & Foley, S 2026, 'The menopausal transition and women's workplace identity: A qualitative systematic review', SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, vol. 9, 100774, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2026.100774
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