# Investigation of Social and Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation in the Development of Depression Symptoms During the Menopause Transition

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2022 · $243,750

## Abstract

Project Summary
The menopausal transition is a high-risk period for the development of clinically significant depression
symptoms in women. The likelihood of depression during the transition to menopause (i.e., perimenopause) is
approximately 3 times greater relative to the pre-menopause period. There is a critical need to understand the
mechanisms of these increased depression rates to optimally inform prevention and risk-management
strategies. Circadian rhythms are altered in menopause and have been linked to depression broadly and in
menopausal women specifically. Recent research has also shown that sensitivity to fluctuations in estrogen
may be linked to depression symptoms during this reproductive transition. What has yet to be thoroughly
elucidated is 1) the degree to which altered circadian rhythms are linked to the development of depression
symptoms during the perimenopausal period and 2) whether circadian alterations are influenced purely by
hormonal changes or also by environmental dysregulation of social rhythms. The goal of this R21 proposal is
to explore simultaneously the relationship of both hormonal and social rhythm influences on circadian rhythms
in women transitioning into menopause both with (n=20) and without (n=20) clinically significant symptoms of
major depressive disorder (MDD). Baseline assessments will include clinical interview and self-report
measures of depression, a detailed interview of current stressors and their impact on daily routines, and
questionnaires about sleep, chronotype, and social rhythm regularity. Participants will also complete a blood
draw for reproductive hormones estradiol and follicle stimulating hormone. Over the course of 4 weeks,
participants will provide morning salivary samples of estradiol and progesterone every 4 days for a total of 7
samples. Participants will also wear a wrist actigraph during the study period to examine rest/activity rhythms
and participate in once daily ecological momentary assessments of mood, stress, and routines allowing for
deeper analysis of contextual factors that may affect circadian rhythms and mood. At the end of week 4,
participants will undergo a repeat blood draw and complete follow-up assessments of stress and mood. These
methods will set the stage for an R01 that will investigate the mediational role of circadian and social rhythm
disruption in the development of depression symptoms in a large and diverse sample of perimenopausal
women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10507660
- **Project number:** 1R21MH130642-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Elaine M Boland
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $243,750
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-15 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10507660

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10507660, Investigation of Social and Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation in the Development of Depression Symptoms During the Menopause Transition (1R21MH130642-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10507660. Licensed CC0.

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