Case-control study, 1996
Are women with PMS more angry or do they have different feelings of control than women without PMS?
No clear difference in anger or feelings of control was found between women with and without PMS. However, 89% of women thought they had PMS when only 22% actually met the official diagnosis criteria.
What they did
College women (137 total) filled out questionnaires about anger, feelings of control, and whether they had PMS. Researchers excluded women who had children, used birth control pills, or took psychiatric medications. The remaining women were sorted into those who met the official PMS diagnosis (48 women) and those who did not (24 women).
What they found
There were no clear differences between the PMS group and the non-PMS group in anger or feelings of control. However, 89% of all women believed they had PMS. Of the women who self-diagnosed with PMS, 22% did not actually meet the official diagnosis criteria.
What it means for you
The study found no connection between anger, feelings of control, and having PMS. The study was small and only looked at college women, so the results may not apply to all women. An important finding is that many women self-diagnose PMS when they do not actually have it by the official definition.
48
women who met official PMS criteria
89%
of women who believed they had PMS
22%
who self-diagnosed but did not meet criteria
About the study
- Original title
- Anger and locus of control in young women with and without premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Smith H, Thomas SP
- Journal
- Issues in mental health nursing
- Year
- 1996
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 48
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01612849609009402
Topics
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