Survey study, 2019
Are teen girls with depression or PMS/PMDD more likely to act aggressively?
Yes. Girls with a depressive mood or a PMS/PMDD diagnosis showed more aggression than other girls, but this snapshot-style study cannot prove that depression or PMS/PMDD causes the aggression.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 510 high school girls in two cities in northern Iran (2017-2018 school year) using three questionnaires: one for depression, one for premenstrual symptoms, and one for aggression. 475 of the surveys were valid and used in the analysis.
What they found
Depressive mood had a significant effect on aggression (F=31.50, df=1). Girls diagnosed with PMS or PMDD also showed more aggression than girls without these diagnoses. There was no significant difference in aggression levels between girls with PMS and girls with PMDD (p>0.05).
What it means for you
Depression and PMS/PMDD symptoms seem linked to more aggression in teen girls, which could inform school-based support programs. But the study only looked at one point in time, relied on self-reported questionnaires, and surveyed girls from just two schools in Iran, so it cannot show cause and effect or be generalized widely.
510
Girls surveyed
475 (93%)
Valid responses used
F=31.50
F-value, effect of depressive mood on aggression
About the study
- Original title
- Aggression in Iranian adolescent girls: role of depressive mood, dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Sajjad Rezaei
- Journal
- Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research
- Year
- 2019
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 510
- What was tested
- None tested; this was an observational survey, not a treatment study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1108/jacpr-06-2019-0422
Topics
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