Funded PhD – Mental health through the menopause transition

December 13, 2026 Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide) About the project There is currently poor understanding of why the menopause transition is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems, and which women are most at risk of poor mental health. Increases in depression and anxiety during menopause are often attributed to hormonal changes, but other biopsychosocial factors over the life course could be contributing to poor mental health and wellbeing during this transition. This PhD project will advance understanding of biopsychosocial factors that drive increases in mental health problems at the menopause transition and identify protective factors that might mitigate against poor mental health. The project will apply causal inference methods to existing population-based cohort data and will generate new qualitative data from in-depth interviews aimed at understanding factors that make women more or less likely to experience poor mental health during menopause. Aims and objectives The aim of this PhD project is to advance understanding of the life course determinants of mental health and well-being during the menopause transition. The project will take advantage of existing data from women participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The ALSPAC Mothers Cohort is a UK population-based cohort of women who have been followed for over 30 years. Causal inference methods will be used to examine biopsychosocial mechanisms that influence mental health at the menopause transition. The project will also generate new qualitative data from in-depth interviews with women to understand the influences of individual and societal factors and prior life experiences in shaping mental health and well-being during menopause. Specific objectives To review the literature on biopsychosocial factors that influence mental health through the menopause transition. To use causal inference methods to understand biopsychosocial factors that lead to better or worse mental health outcomes during the menopause transition. To conduct in-depth qualitative interviews with women to explore biopsychosocial factors that shape their mental health in the perimenopausal and post-menopausal periods. The student will take ownership of the project through the selection of biopsychosocial factors on which they will focus their project. Possibilities include socioeconomic factors (e.g. educational attainment, occupational social class); stress and trauma (adverse childhood experiences, stressful life events in adulthood); lifestyle factors (e.g. physical activity, diet, alcohol use and smoking); physical health (e.g. body mass index, chronic inflammation, sleep problems, urinary incontinence), and relationships (e.g. presence of supportive relationships; quality of relationship with partner, sexual relationships). Methods This is a mixed methods project involving quantitative analysis of existing data and collection and analysis of new qualitative data. Statistical analysis will include multivariable regression, and training will also be provided in more advanced statistical methods (including multiple imputation and causal mediation approaches) and qualitative methods. How to apply Before applying, please check the entry requirements . Submit your application via the University of Bristol portal . Search for and then select ‘Population Health Sciences (PhD)’. Click ‘Apply’ for September 2027 start. You must provide the following in your application: A CV Two referees (add to the Reference section of your application form) A personal statement highlighting your motivation for applying for this PhD, and any relevant experience and/or skills (maximum of one side of A4, font size 11). We are keen to support applicants from minority and under-represented backgrounds (based on protected characteristics ) and those who have experienced other challenges or disadvantages. Please use your personal statement to ensure we can take these factors into account. Certificates and transcripts Enter the project title and the supervisor names as they appear on this advert in the Research section. A research statement/proposal is not required. You should upload a blank document in this section. In the funding section, choose ‘University of Bristol Scholarship’. Incomplete applications will not be considered . Read the list above carefully and ensure you have uploaded all required documents by the deadline. If you have yet to complete your degree, please supply an interim transcript where possible. You can find more information on how to prepare your application and what we are looking for at the “PhD Application Workshop” which will be held on Teams on Monday 23rd November at 2pm (GMT): PhD Application Workshop. Applications will be shortlisted in January 2027 with interviews in February 2027. The anticipated start date for this scholarship is September 2027. Please visit our website for more information on PhD opportunities in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Further enquiries Project-specific queries: carol.joinson@bristol.ac.uk Application queries: uob-pgradmissions@bristol.ac.uk Funding Notes This is a four-year scholarship covering tuition fees, a UKRI-rate stipend (£21,805 in 2026/27, updated annually), and £2,100 annual research costs. The scholarship is available to UK and International applicants. International candidates (including EU) will be required to cover the cost of their student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK. References https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.24760.2