Menopause can place significant psychological demands on women in leadership, but it may also make them more empathetic towards colleagues, according to research from Durham University Business School.
The study, led by Professor Olga Epitropaki and Professor Maria Kakarika, examined how menopausal symptoms affect women leading teams and organisations. Its findings challenge the idea that menopause should be viewed only as a negative experience and point to the need for better support in workplaces.
Symptoms can affect women leading teams
The researchers surveyed 341 full-time women in leadership positions who were experiencing menopausal symptoms. Those taking part reported hot flushes, disrupted sleep, psychological changes and cognitive difficulties.
Women with more severe symptoms were more likely to say they felt depleted. That feeling could prompt nostalgia for their premenopausal selves, producing both positive and negative effects.
The research describes women managing these symptoms while leading meetings, supporting employees and carrying out demanding professional responsibilities. For leaders, the combination of workplace expectations and difficult symptoms can therefore create a substantial personal challenge.
Nostalgia had a bittersweet effect
The study found that nostalgia could help women leaders feel more connected to colleagues and employees. However, reflecting on perceived losses—including energy, confidence or a sense of control—could also contribute to greater psychological withdrawal.
Three follow-up experiments involving 450 women leaders supported the same pattern. More severe menopausal experiences increased feelings of depletion; that depletion then increased nostalgia and empathy.
The findings suggest that menopause does not have a single effect on leadership. While symptoms may reduce wellbeing and leave some women feeling less psychologically resourced, the experience can also deepen understanding of what colleagues and employees may be going through.
Researchers call for more open workplace support
The researchers say menopause remains a taboo subject in many organisations and is often missing from workplace wellbeing and leadership-development discussions.
They argue that greater openness and practical support could help women leaders manage menopause while continuing to develop their careers without compromising their wellbeing. For Durham businesses and other employers, the study highlights the importance of treating menopause as part of workplace support rather than overlooking it.
The research was published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior under the study title Menopausal, Depleted, and Nostalgic: The Bittersweet Effects of Menopause for Women Leaders.
The work comes from Durham University Business School’s Department of Management and Marketing. The university says the department is part of a triple-accredited Business School and is ranked 35th globally for Masters in Marketing and 42nd globally for Masters in Management in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is also ranked first in the UK and third globally in the QS International Trade Rankings 2026.