Evaluation of an evidence-based yoga and education programme for menopausal and perimenopausal women in higher level education: A mixed-methods study

Background: The menopausal transition is frequently associated with increased psychological stress, symptom burden, and physiological dysregulation. Evidence supporting integrated interventions that combine movement-based practices with menopause education remains limited, particularly among academic women navigating intersecting occupational, caregiving, and health-related demands. Objectives: This study evaluated the efficacy of a combined yoga and menopause education programme in reducing stress and improving wellbeing during the menopausal transition in academic women. A mixed-methods design was used to explore both physiological outcomes and participants’ lived experiences of the intervention. A mixed-methods design was employed to examine psychological and physiological outcomes alongside participants’ lived experiences of the intervention. Methods: Seventeen academic women experiencing the menopausal transition participated in a 12-week programme integrating yoga practice, menopause education, and behaviour change strategies. Quantitative outcomes included the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), SF-36 quality-of-life subscales, anthropometric measures (BMI, body fat percentage, abdominal circumference), and salivary cortisol indices (ΔCAR, ΔAUC, ΔDTN). Repeated-measures analyses, effect sizes, and exploratory correlations were conducted. Qualitative data were generated through focus groups and semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. A reflexive analytic approach acknowledged the researcher’s dual role as clinician and participant experiencing the menopausal transition. Results: Significant improvements were observed in Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) total, psychological, and vasomotor scores. SF-36 domains including emotional wellbeing, social functioning, and role emotional also reached statistical significance (p < 0.05), indicating reductions in symptom burden and improvements in psychological wellbeing. Moderate improvements were observed in anthropometric markers, with the cardiometabolic indicator waist–hip ratio (WHR) reaching statistical significance. Cortisol indices suggested adaptive physiological recalibration in approximately 80% of participants; however, inter-individual variability limited group-level statistical significance. Qualitative findings contextualised these outcomes within the broader biopsychosocial context of academic labour and caregiving responsibilities, highlighting the value of embodied practice, shared learning environments, and relational programme delivery. Conclusions: The findings suggest that integrated yoga and menopause education programmes may meaningfully support psychological wellbeing and adaptive stress regulation during the menopausal transition. By integrating physiological measures with lived experience, this mixed-methods study illustrates the value of embodied, multimodal approaches that address both biological and socio-contextual dimensions of menopausal health. Taken together, the findings demonstrate the value of mixed-methods, embodied inquiry and highlight the potential of inclusive, multimodal interventions situated within women’s health and workplace contexts. These findings point to the potential of accessible, relational interventions to support women navigating midlife transitions within complex occupational and caregiving environments. Further research using larger samples and controlled designs is warranted to examine scalability and longer-term outcomes.

Publisher

University of Galway

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CC BY-NC-ND

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University of Galway Theses (Research Masters Theses)