{
  "abstract": "To compare the odds of reporting anxiety symptoms across the pre, peri and post-menopausal stages. Medline, PsycInfo, Embase and Web of Science were searched until 16th August 2024. Inclusion criteria were (1) a cross-sectional or longitudinal design (2) a female population aged 18+ (3) assessed anxiety across menopause stages using validated measures. Exclusion criteria were (1) intervention studies (2) systematic reviews (3) studies with samples who had co-morbid physical or psychiatric conditions. Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. 21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to pre-menopause, women in peri-menopause and post-menopause had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms (Pre vs. peri: OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.26-2.00; pre vs. post: OR = OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.19–2.25). Post-menopausal women had lower odds of anxiety symptoms compared to those in peri-menopause (peri vs. post: OR = 0.79, CI: 0.65–0.96). This review suggests that women in peri-menopause and post-menopause report higher levels of anxiety symptoms compared to pre-menopause, with the highest odds observed during peri-menopause. The menopause transition may represent a period associated with increased reporting of anxiety symptoms, but longitudinal research is needed to clarify directionality, underlying mechanisms, and the role of confounding factors.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Alisha Mehta"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aimee Spector"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nora Bahhar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Roopal Desai"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2c98xjz911j7w.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-75578-x",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "2c98xjz911j7w",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-75578-x",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2712|Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223181393",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-75578-x_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2c98xjz911j7w.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:33Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-75578-x",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-75578-x"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2712|Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments",
      "subfield": "endocrinology-metabolism"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "title_text": "Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:33Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2c98xjz911j7w",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}