Effects of physical activity on menopausal symptoms, psychosomatic factors and well-being among working women in England: A path analysis

Background – Research to date suggests that Physical Activity (PA) can buffer menopausal symptoms and support wellbeing, but there is limited evidence on the link between PA and menopausal symptoms in the United Kingdom, and no study has assessed how PA affects wellbeing through menopausal symptoms and three psychosomatic factors (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress). Objectives – This study investigated whether PA affects wellbeing through menopausal symptoms and psychosomatic factors. This study focuses on how PA influences working women with menopause. Design – A cross-sectional design based on the STROBE (i.e., Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) checklist was adopted. Methods – The participants were 324 working women in England. An online self-reported questionnaire was utilised to gather data through Qualtrics. The data were analysed with path analysis through Structural Equation Modelling, and sensitivity analyses were performed to avoid or reduce statistical bias. Results – PA had a negative effect on menopausal symptoms (β = -0.21; p<0.001) but a positive effect on wellbeing (β = 0.19; p<0.001). Menopausal symptoms had a negative indirect effect on wellbeing, but PA had a positive indirect effect on wellbeing through menopausal symptoms and the three psychosomatic factors. Conclusion – PA was positively associated with wellbeing but negatively associated with menopausal symptoms. Menopausal symptoms may lower wellbeing through anxiety, depression, and stress, but PA can be associated with better wellbeing through depression, anxiety, and stress.