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Published on: July 27, 2018
Women's Engagement With Different Internet-Enabled Technologies to Access Digital Menopause Information: Mixed
Alison K Osborne1, Elizabeth Sillence1,2, Caroline Claisse3
1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Northumberland Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|May 20, 2026
Summary
Women increasingly use digital tools for menopause information. Websites and podcasts enhance feelings of competence and autonomy, unlike overwhelming online forums, offering valuable peer support and validation.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Health Communication
- Sociology of Health
Background:
- Digital information, including websites, social media, and podcasts, is a significant source of menopause information.
- Existing research often examines single digital technologies, limiting understanding of the broader digital ecosystem for menopause information.
- This study addresses the gap by exploring women's holistic engagement with various internet-enabled technologies for menopause information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how women engage with diverse internet-enabled technologies for menopause information.
- To understand the relationship between technology engagement and feelings of competence, autonomy, and relatedness.
- To analyze experiences through a feminist new materialism lens, considering technological affordances, affective factors, and agency.
Main Methods:
- A multiphase, mixed-methods study involving 16 women aged 40-62 undergoing menopause.
- Online surveys and interviews were used to gather demographic data, perceived knowledge, and digital engagement.
- Participants completed information-gathering tasks using websites, podcasts, and online groups, followed by reflection through interviews or surveys, and concluded with focus groups.
Main Results:
- Websites offered the highest accessibility and familiarity, boosting competence and autonomy.
- Podcasts emerged as a novel technology, also increasing competence and autonomy compared to online groups.
- Online groups/forums were often found overwhelming; however, digital engagement provided peer experiences, normalizing and validating menopause journeys.
Conclusions:
- Future research should consider the integrated use of multiple digital technologies for menopause information, not isolated platforms.
- Understanding the nuances of familiarity, accessibility, trust, and lived experience across websites, podcasts, and online groups is crucial.
- Digital engagement offers significant opportunities for peer support, validation, and understanding during menopause.
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