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Source study found

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Women in perimenopause report more anxiety than other menopausal groups (opens in a new tab)

news-medical.net · 2026-10-25

Short answerEvidenceSource

Short answer

Mixed

Mixed.

The claims we could check match the study, but some claims were not covered by the evidence reviewed.

  • 3 supported
  • 2 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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Follow the evidence trail
1
2

NewsLink checks it

Mixed

Every claim we could check holds up. Three of five claims match the study. This overall rating is based only on the claims we could check. Two claims the study doesn't address.

  • 3 supported
  • 2 not covered
Open claim evidence
3
Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

5 claims in this story

Showing all 5 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 5Not coveredResearchers examined evidence from more than 24,000 women to investigate how anxiety reporting differs before, during, and after menopause.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedmore than 24,000 women

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports that the paper examined anxiety symptoms across pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal stages using observational evidence. However, the stated participant magnitude of 'more than 24,000 women' is not reported in the supplied abstract-level paper profile, so the full lead claim cannot be verified at this depth.

1

Study evidence

Compared to pre-menopause, peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis”
2

Study evidence

Peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms compared to pre-menopausal women.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis.”
Claim 2 of 5Not coveredThe review evaluated data from 21 peer-reviewed studies involving 24,523 women; 15 studies contributed to the meta-analysis comparing anxiety odds across premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal stages.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated21 studies; 24,523 women; 15 studies in meta-analysis

Why this verdict

The supplied profile supports that 21 studies met inclusion criteria and 15 were included in the meta-analysis. It does not verify, at abstract depth, the total participant count of 24,523 or that all studies were peer-reviewed. Those details may be in the full paper but are not established by the supplied abstract-level evidence.

1

Study evidence

Compared to pre-menopause, peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis”
2

Study evidence

Peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms compared to pre-menopausal women.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis.”
Claim 3 of 5SupportedCompared with premenopausal women, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women had significantly higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms, with the highest odds observed during perimenopause.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated59% higher odds in perimenopause; 63% higher odds in postmenopause; 21% lower odds postmenopause vs perimenopause

Why this verdict

The reported odds ratios match the abstract-level meta-analysis: peri-menopause vs pre-menopause OR 1.59, post-menopause vs pre-menopause OR 1.63, and lower odds in post-menopause than peri-menopause with OR 0.79. The claim is framed as odds of reporting anxiety symptoms, not causation. Although this is headline-prominent, it does not outrun the body’s associational framing.

1

Study evidence

Peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms compared to pre-menopausal women.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis.”
Claim 4 of 5SupportedIn a recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports, researchers synthesized decades of observational evidence to assess associations between menopausal stage and anxiety symptoms.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The profile identifies the paper as a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cross-sectional and longitudinal studies assessing associations between menopausal stage and anxiety symptoms. The exact span implied by 'decades' is not detailed in the abstract profile, but the main claim about the review design and associational framing is supported.

1

Study evidence

Compared to pre-menopause, peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis”
2

Study evidence

Peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms compared to pre-menopausal women.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis.”
Claim 5 of 5SupportedThe article cautions that these findings support greater clinical awareness of anxiety symptoms during the menopause transition but do not establish that menopause causes anxiety or that symptoms increase within individual women over time.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The profile states that the evidence is observational and that directionality, mechanisms, and confounding require further longitudinal research. That supports the story’s caution that the findings do not establish causality or within-person increases over time. The 'clinical awareness' implication is only indirectly supported by the reported elevated odds during menopausal stages.

1

Study evidence

Compared to pre-menopause, peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis”
2

Study evidence

Peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms compared to pre-menopausal women.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)

“21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis.”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story left out

Important study details the story did not include.

  • Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool, but the abstract does not report detailed appraisal procedures or results.

    The story’s caveats say that no separate formal risk-of-bias or certainty-of-evidence assessment was conducted. That does not reflect the abstract-level profile, which states that study quality was assessed using CASP, while also noting that the abstract lacks details on the appraisal results or procedures.

    From CASP-based study quality appraisal

  • At abstract depth, the reasons why 6 of 21 eligible studies were not included in the meta-analysis are not detailed.

    The story mentions that one low-quality study was excluded from the meta-analysis, but the supplied abstract-level profile only establishes that 15 of 21 studies were meta-analyzed and does not verify that explanation.

    From Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies; meta-analysis

5 things the story did carry across
  • The paper is a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cross-sectional and longitudinal studies comparing anxiety symptoms across pre-, peri-, and post-menopause.
  • The abstract reports 21 eligible studies and 15 studies included in the meta-analysis.
  • The meta-analysis reports higher odds of anxiety symptoms in peri-menopause and post-menopause versus pre-menopause, and lower odds in post-menopause versus peri-menopause.
  • The evidence is observational, so the pooled associations do not establish causality or temporal directionality.
  • The authors call for longitudinal research to clarify directionality, mechanisms, and confounding.
Then read the study layer

Study layer

Study at a glance

Scan the study first. Expand only the parts you want to inspect.

Pieces of work

3

Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

secondary data

1Lead resultsecondary dataSynthesize observational evidence on whether odds of anxiety symptoms differ across menopausal stages (pre-, peri-, post-menopause).Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studiesExpand

In plain English

Systematic review (with meta-analysis) of observational studies comparing odds of self-reported anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages (pre-, peri-, post-menopause). Search of Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, and Web of Science through 16 Aug 2024 identified 21 eligible studies (cross-sectional or longitudinal) with 15 studies included in meta-analyses. Pooled results indicate higher odds of anxiety symptoms in peri- and post-menopause versus pre-menopause, with the highest odds during peri-menopause. Study quality was appraised using the CASP tool. Authors note need for longitudinal research to clarify directionality, mechanisms, and confounding.

Key findings

  • Compared to pre-menopause, peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)
  • Compared to pre-menopause, post-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms.OR = 1.63 (95% CI 1.19–2.25)
“Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis”
What this piece can’t prove
  • All included evidence is observational (cross-sectional and longitudinal), so associations do not establish causality or temporal directionality.
  • Authors note need for longitudinal research to clarify directionality, underlying mechanisms, and the role of confounding factors; the abstract does not report details on adjustment for confounders or heterogeneity metrics.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

2secondary dataQuantitatively pool eligible studies to estimate comparative odds (meta-analysis) for pre vs peri, pre vs post, and peri vs post menopausal stages.meta-analysisExpand

In plain English

Meta-analysis of 15 studies (of 21 eligible) pooled odds ratios for anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages and reported higher odds in peri- and post-menopause versus pre-menopause, with the largest odds during peri-menopause.

Key findings

  • Peri-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms compared to pre-menopausal women.OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.26–2.00)
  • Post-menopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms compared to pre-menopausal women.OR = 1.63 (95% CI 1.19–2.25)
“21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis.”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Directionality, underlying mechanisms, and potential confounding are unresolved; authors call for longitudinal research to clarify these issues.

2 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

3secondary dataAppraise included study quality/risk of bias using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool.CASP-based study quality appraisalExpand

In plain English

The review reports that study quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. The abstract provides no further detail about which CASP checklist was used, how the tool was applied, the results of the appraisal, or whether quality assessments influenced the synthesis.

Key findings

  • Study quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool.
“Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool.”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Absent details limit assessment of the rigor and reproducibility of the quality appraisal (e.g., checklist variant, reviewer procedures, scoring).

2 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

Finally, the search trail

Method layer

NewsLink found the paper. Tessa takes you deeper.

NewsLink checks the story. Tessa is where you inspect the paper, authors, evidence, and research context.

Open the paper in Tessa

Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Scientific Reports · 2026

Source record (opens in a new tab)

Why this one

Near certain

NewsLink found the paper. Tessa is where you inspect it deeply.

Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

Crossref, PubMed, Europe PMC · 16 candidate papers

Selected

Anxiety symptoms across menopausal stages: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Scientific Reports · 2026 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Can acupuncture improve sleep quality and anxiety among women during perimenopause? A systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Can acupuncture improve sleep quality and anxiety among women during perimenopause?A protocol for systemic review and meta-analysis

2021 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)

And 10 more candidates considered.