Mafalda Duarte is a PhD student in Applied Psychology at the Faculty of Education and Psychology of Universidade Católica Portuguesa. After completing her bachelor's degree at the University of Warwick and her master's degree at Queen Mary University of London, she returned to Portugal to pursue research in an area she believes requires urgent attention: women's psychological health during perimenopause and menopause. In this interview, she reflects on the journey that led her to Psychology and to her doctoral research, while highlighting the importance of increasing scientific attention to women's health, noting that "women's health has historically been neglected."

How did your interest in Psychology begin?

My connection with Psychology began quite subtly through personal development books that my father gave me during my teenage years. Books such as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey and Anormalmente Bom by Nuno Fontes sparked conversations about behaviour, emotions and thought processes. Without realising it at the time, I was already exploring the foundations of psychology. I was fascinated by the idea that changing one's perspective has the power to transform how we feel, how we behave and, ultimately, who we are. Later, when I connected that interest with Psychology as an academic discipline, pursuing it felt less like making a choice and more like discovering something fundamental about myself.

 

"A research topic emerged that I knew I wanted to explore further, and pursuing a PhD became the natural path."

 

You are currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Psychology at the Faculty of Education and Psychology of Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Why did you choose this programme?

For me, this programme was an obvious choice - not only because it is taught in English, the language I am most accustomed to in academic settings, but also because it offered the balance I was looking for. After spending several years abroad, I wanted to return to Portugal without closing the door on a possible future career in the United Kingdom. This PhD has allowed me to do exactly that: to be based in Portugal while maintaining a strong connection to the international academic community. I feel I am benefiting from the best of both worlds and learning a great deal from two distinct academic cultures, each with its own strengths.

As for my research topic, it was during my master's degree in Psychological Therapies, while I was preparing for a career in clinical psychology, that I became increasingly interested in women's mental health during menopause. It is a profoundly under-researched field that I believe deserves urgent attention. It was this sense of purpose, combined with my growing interest in the subject, that motivated me to continue. To be honest, pursuing a PhD had never been part of my plans. What happened was that I found a research topic I had no doubt I wanted to explore further, and a PhD became the natural path.

How has your PhD experience been so far?

It has been an extremely positive experience. I am fortunate to have supervisors whose knowledge, experience and commitment to my project have made all the difference. A PhD requires a great deal of independence and time management, in many ways resembling self-employment. Even so, I have never felt alone. The academic staff have exceeded my expectations, not only because of their scientific excellence but also because of their willingness to listen and provide support. I am learning things I never imagined I would explore, and one of the greatest strengths of this programme is precisely the close relationship between students and faculty.

 

"Women's health has historically been neglected, and that is a global issue."

 

You are currently conducting research on the physical and psychological health of women between the ages of 40 and 55. How did your interest in this topic develop?

Most women experience perimenopause -the hormonal transition leading up to menopause - during this stage of life. My interest in this topic arose from personal experience, after witnessing first-hand the impact that this phase can have on the wellbeing of someone close to me. At the time, I was going through adolescence myself and could not help noticing the similarities: mood swings, irritability and physical changes, all triggered by hormonal fluctuations. The key difference is that adolescence is universally recognised and, to some extent, socially accepted. Menopause is not. At the stage of life when women experience perimenopause, many are working full-time, caring for others and balancing multiple responsibilities that leave little room for a period of greater vulnerability. Yet perimenopause happens regardless.

What struck me most was the silence surrounding the topic - the lack of conversation, the lack of information and, often, the lack of recognition from those around these women, including healthcare professionals. As I began reviewing the scientific literature and realised that many healthcare professionals do not feel adequately prepared to care for women during this stage because of gaps in their medical training, my determination to contribute to this field became even stronger. I see my research project as a mission.

What are the main objectives of your current research?

The study has two main objectives. First, to identify the subjective symptoms that women associate with perimenopause, with particular attention to cognitive symptoms such as changes in memory and attention. Second, to compare data from women in Portugal and the United Kingdom in order to determine whether there are differences in symptom perception and to what extent health and lifestyle factors influence symptom severity.

Is it important to increase scientific visibility around this stage of women's lives?

Absolutely. Women's health has historically been neglected, and that is a global issue. We are now in 2026 and only just beginning to understand, for example, that the hormonal changes associated with menopause place women at greater risk of developing cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, as well as cardiovascular disease. It was only recently recognised that women often experience different symptoms during a heart attack than men, meaning that many women have suffered heart attacks without anyone - including themselves -realising it.

Similarly, hormone replacement therapy, the treatment most specifically aimed at managing menopausal symptoms, was considered high-risk for many years and has only recently begun to regain acceptance within the medical community.

For all these reasons, giving scientific visibility to women's health during this stage of life - and indeed throughout women's lives - is not just important; it is urgent. The encouraging news is that interest in this field is growing. Increasing numbers of researchers are dedicating their work to this topic, and major organisations are recognising its importance and investing in it. My research project aims to make a contribution, however modest, to that broader change.

 

"I see my research project as a mission."

 

What are your plans for the future, and which areas would you like to continue exploring?

In addition to my current study, I have already planned the next stages of my research. One of the projects I intend to carry out will objectively assess the cognitive performance of women experiencing perimenopause who report symptoms of "brain fog" - a term used to describe mental cloudiness, difficulty concentrating and memory lapses. The aim is to provide scientific validation for what women have been reporting for many years.

In the longer term, I hope to specialise in women's cognitive health during perimenopause and deepen our understanding of how hormonal changes influence cognitive performance during this stage of life.