Survey study, 1997
Does how women rate their own premenstrual symptoms match a standard questionnaire?
Women's self-rating of symptoms roughly matches a standard questionnaire, but about one-third of women don't recognize they have symptoms even though a formal questionnaire would identify them as having them.
What they did
267 women with average age 31.4 years rated their premenstrual symptoms using a single self-assessment question and completed the modified Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, comparing the two methods.
What they found
On self-assessment, 13% reported no symptoms, 43% slight, 37% moderate, and 7% severe (total of 267 women, average age 31.4). The questionnaire average score was 23.5. Almost one-third of women self-assessed differently than the questionnaire classified them, reporting no symptoms when the questionnaire said they had them.
What it means for you
Women often don't notice their own premenstrual symptoms even when a formal questionnaire would catch them. This matters because women who don't recognize their symptoms may not seek help, even if they need it.
267
women surveyed
31.4
average age
13%
reported no symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Comparison of self-assessment of premenstrual symptoms with scores on the modified Menstrual Distress Questionnaire
- Authors
- Kirkby RJ, Picone L, Lindner H
- Journal
- Psychological reports
- Year
- 1997
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 267
- What was tested
- None (assessment comparison)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1997.81.2.659