The Role of Leisure in Women's Experiences of Menopause and Mid-Life

Much of the recent research on menopause has been criticized for adopting a narrow medical model, and for failing to recognize the effect of other midlife changes on women's lives. This study used an alternative feminist framework to explore the experiences of menopause and midlife, and to examine the impact of leisure on these experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted with five women, all of whom were currently experiencing manopause. The findings indicated that menopause and midlife were inextricably linked for these women, through the emotional challenges that they were experiencing and through the realization of aging. Leisure was shown to have a number of beneficial outcomes. Physically active leisure enhanced health and physical and emotional well-being. In addition, although some leisure activities provided women with a sense of familiarity, security, and continuity, other practices allowed women to develop new interests, to focus on themselves, and to improve their self-attitudes. Finding an appropriate balance between these various outcomes of leisure may help women to negotiate their journey through the transitional years of menopause and midlife.