Menopausal transition and change in employment: Evidence from the National Child Development Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the impact of the menopausal transition and severe symptoms on changes in employment.

Study design: This longitudinal prospective study analysed data from a population-based cohort study, the UK National Child Development Study Wave 8 and Wave 9, when the cohort was aged 50 and 55 respectively. The analytical sample comprised 3109 employed women at age 50.

Measures: The outcome variable was the employment change from age 50 to age 55, with three categories: i) continued employed without reduced working time; ii) continued employed with reduced working hours; and iii) exit employment. The employment dynamics of women were compared using multinomial logistic regression modelling. Key independent variables included menopausal transition status and severe menopausal symptoms experienced.

Results: 53.5 % of employed women at age 50 reported at least one severe menopausal symptom. Women experiencing severe menopausal symptoms had a higher chance of employment exit or reducing their working hours. The odds ratios contrasting severely symptomatic women with those with no severe symptoms were 1.43 (95 % CI = 1.11-1.84) between exiting employment vs continued employment without reducing working hours, and 1.23 (95 % CI = 1.02-1.48) between reducing working hours vs continued employment without reducing working hours. The strength of the association between women's severe menopausal symptoms and the risk of employment exit or reducing working hours varied according to their HRT usage and their partner's economic activity.

Conclusions: Menopausal symptoms can pose obstacles to some middle-aged women in terms of remaining in employment or maintaining their number of working hours.

Keywords: Cohort study; Employment; Menopausal transition; National Child Development Study; Symptoms.