TabaMeno
In Switzerland, about one in five women between the ages of 45 and 64 smokes. Quitting smoking would be particularly effective during menopause – yet physical and psychosocial changes make this step more difficult.
Factsheet
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Schools involved
School of Health Professions
School of Social Work - Institute(s) Institute on Ageing
- Funding organisation Others
- Duration (planned) 01.06.2026 - 31.12.2027
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Karin Haas
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Project staff
Dr. Renato Mattli
Anita Schürch
Justine Christen
Prof. Dr. Jonathan Bennett - Keywords Women, menopause, weight gain, physical changes, body image, tobacco prevention, smoking cessation, health equity
Situation
Women in menopause are in a period of life that involves profound hormonal changes and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. When combined with tobacco use, this creates a particular vulnerability to health risks. Women in this stage of life would benefit particularly from quitting smoking. At the same time, however, they face multiple challenges: physical changes such as weight gain, psychosocial stress, and societal perceptions of aging make the decision to quit and the process of doing so more difficult. The interplay of these factors has not yet been sufficiently researched—especially with regard to the experiences and needs of the women affected.
Course of action
As part of this research project, a qualitative study is being conducted to examine the experiences, barriers, and needs of women with and without a migration background who are in the peri- and early postmenopausal stages, in relation to smoking cessation and physical changes (particularly weight gain). Through 25 individual interviews and two focus groups, key barriers and success factors will be explored—with a particular focus on body image, weight changes, age-related self-perceptions, psychosocial stressors, and support networks. In a subsequent workshop with individuals who provide smoking cessation counseling, the results from the interviews as well as initial possibilities for integrating them into current smoking cessation programs will be discussed, and initial recommendations for action will be derived. In a co-creation workshop with affected women and stakeholders, target-group- and practice-oriented implementation measures for existing smoking cessation programs will be developed. The project is supported by a transdisciplinary advisory board and contributes to equal development of tobacco prevention in Switzerland.
