A meta-analysis of 11 trials found low to moderate intensity programmed exercise for 12 weeks to a year reduced depressive symptoms in midlife and older women, with less insomnia reported secondarily.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,943 participants pooled · 2017Midlife womenCited 52 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of ten RCTs in midlife and older women found mid-term exercise programs of 12 to 16 weeks reduced mild to moderate anxiety symptoms, but longer programs of 6 to 14 months did not.
Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 1,463 participants pooled · 2018Midlife womenCited 19 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 21 randomized trials with 2020 women found physical activity reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms during the menopausal transition and menopause, regardless of exercise intensity.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,020 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
A scoping review of 67 studies covering over 103,000 midlife women found physical activity generally linked to better psychological and social outcomes like mood and quality of life.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 103,826 participants pooled · 2022Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed
A review of 23 studies found exercise-based and mind-body interventions improved quality of life, menopausal symptoms and depression in Asian perimenopausal women, but not hot flashes.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2020PerimenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 trials with 1,050 women found exercise and mind-body exercise improved menopausal symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms compared with controls.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,050 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
A review of 5 RCTs in overweight and obese postmenopausal women found long-term physical activity interventions improved adiposity and physical capacity, while mental health outcomes did not change significantly.
No difference foundSystematic review · 2016PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed
A systematic review of seventeen studies found physical activity was associated with improved overall and breast cancer specific survival, with possibly greater benefit in older or postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2013Midlife womenCited 32 timesPubMed
A review of 31 studies found yoga, walking, exercise, and stretching improved sleep quality in menopausal women, with inconsistent effects on depression.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2023Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed
A review of 12 studies found mobile apps and wearables increased physical activity by about 61 weekly minutes in midlife menopausal women and improved weight, anxiety, sleep and quality of life.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2022Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
An umbrella review of 9 systematic reviews found physical activity during menopause was linked to reduced depression, though effects on stress and anxiety were inconsistent.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2023Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
In 120 perimenopausal women, 8 weeks of yoga reduced vasomotor symptoms, stress and neuroticism more than a supervised physical exercise control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 120 women · 8 weeks · 2008PerimenopausalCited 67 timesPubMed
Mostly sedentary, overweight middle-aged women at work took part in a 10-minute workplace aerobic dance exercise break, with high participation but mixed effects on self-rated health and energy.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 449 women · 2004Midlife womenCited 55 timesPubMed
Among 113 midlife women in a physical activity trial, increased activity was linked to fewer general menopause symptoms but not to vasomotor or sexual symptoms specifically.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 113 women · 2009Midlife womenCited 57 timesPubMed
A planned trial will compare cognitive behavioral therapy, physical exercise, and their combination in younger breast cancer patients with treatment-induced menopause, assessing menopausal symptoms and quality of life.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 325 women · 26 weeks · 2009OtherCited 21 timesPubMed
Previously sedentary postmenopausal women aged 45 to 64 who completed a 20-week exercise plus health promotion program reported improved quality of life, mental well-being, weight, fitness and flexibility versus controls, sustained to 12 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal and perimenopausal women received 5 health coaching sessions over 4 months; coaching reduced menopausal symptoms and depression and improved quality of life but did not change physical activity.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 94 women · 16 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
Previously sedentary postmenopausal women who completed a supervised 20-week multicomponent exercise program showed improved quality of life, mental well-being, weight, fitness and flexibility, maintained through 12-month follow-up.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed
In 330 women aged 45-50 with metabolic syndrome, combined exercise therapy, mineral water, vitamins and physiotherapy reduced psychoemotional menopausal symptoms over 6 months versus conventional treatment alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 330 women · 26 weeks · 2019PerimenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In 160 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 55, a physical activity program, alone or with group discussion, reported higher happiness scores than control immediately and two months later.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 160 women · 2024PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Women aged 40 to 65 followed a 12 week web-based lifestyle program including exercise goal-setting, and reported reduced anxiety, depression, hot flushes and sexual dysfunction.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 225 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 27 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women followed for 2 years who increased physical activity and reduced BMI reported improved self-perceptions of physical condition and body attractiveness, raising self-esteem.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 143 women · 104 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
In Australian women aged 45 to 55 followed for about three years, increases in physical activity were linked to increases in HDL cholesterol and wellbeing.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 292 women · 156 weeks · 1997Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
A modeling study of 10,854 Australian women aged 50 to 55 found shifting everyone to meet physical activity guidelines reduced modeled rates of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer and depression more than smaller uniform increases.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 10,854 women · 2014Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
In breast cancer survivors aged 35 to 68 starting a one year exercise trial, higher physical activity correlated with better quality of life, while fatigue and depression were linked to worse quality of life.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 537 women · 2011Midlife womenCited 75 timesPubMed
In 140 Iranian women, an educational program promoting physical activity based on a behavior change model reduced sleep problems, depression, irritability and anxiety two months later.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 140 women · 8 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
33 perimenopausal women did a cross-over sports therapy program and reported lower menopause symptom scores and depressive mood scores compared to a control telephone-intervention phase.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 33 women · 2024PerimenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Among 305 Turkish women aged 45 to 60, physically active women reported lower total menopausal symptom scores, including sleep, sexual, joint and psychological symptoms, than less active women.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 305 women · 2014Midlife womenCited 22 timesPubMed
In 48 peri and postmenopausal women, 8 weeks of using an app providing exercise coaching and information improved quality of life scores and reduced anxiety and somatic symptoms compared to a waitlist group.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 48 women · 8 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
A survey of 542 midlife women across four ethnic groups found depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with active living and sports or exercise activity.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 542 women · 2015Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
In a postal survey of midlife Australian women, exercise was associated with fewer somatic and psychological symptoms including depression and anxiety, but not with hot flushes or sexual function.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 2006Midlife womenCited 56 timesPubMed
Among 434 Korean women aged 40 to 64, depression scores and self-efficacy differed significantly across stages of readiness to change exercise behavior.
Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 434 women · 2006Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
In 46 postmenopausal women with anxiety-depressive symptoms, a one-month spa program based on physical activity was linked to increased adrenal steroid levels and reduced neurotic symptoms.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 46 women · 4 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
A pilot lifestyle programme adapted for midlife women with HIV, ages 40 to 59, reported increased physical activity, cardiovascular disease knowledge, and improved fatigue and mental health.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 14 women · 2021Midlife womenCited 8 timesPubMed
In a pretest posttest study of 102 Thai postmenopausal women, an exercise program was described by the authors as a safe, simple way to help reduce psychological stress.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 102 women · 2002PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
In interviews after a 6 month physical activity trial, menopausal women reported improved hot flushes, night sweats, sleep and psychological wellbeing from being physically active.
Reported an improvementOther · 17 women · 26 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 22 timesPubMed
A narrative review of psychological and mind-body approaches, including yoga, found empirical support for improving quality of life and symptoms like hot flushes and sleep during menopause.
Reported an improvementOther · 2024Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
A review described how regular physical activity including aerobic exercise, resistance training and yoga in midlife women supports cognition, sleep, mood and reduces chronic disease risk.
Reported an improvementOther · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed