Cohort study, 2003
Does the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire accurately measure different types of menstrual cycle symptoms?
Yes, when women filled out the questionnaire daily for 70 days, symptoms grouped into six main types, similar to the original questionnaire structure. This suggests the tool is useful, though some symptoms fit into multiple categories.
What they did
187 women from the general community completed a modified Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire daily for 70 days without knowing the study's purpose. Researchers analyzed which symptoms grouped together during the follicular phase (before ovulation), late luteal phase (before period), and menstrual phase (during period).
What they found
A six-factor solution (six main groups of symptoms) similar to the original questionnaire was found. However, some symptoms loaded on more than one factor, creating some instability in the groupings.
What it means for you
The Moos questionnaire is a reasonable tool for measuring menstrual cycle symptoms. The instability where some symptoms fit into multiple categories may explain why different researchers have gotten different results using the same questionnaire.
187
women participants
70
days of daily questionnaires
6
symptom groupings found
About the study
- Original title
- Factor structure of the modified Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire: assessment of prospectively reported follicular, menstrual and premenstrual symptomatology
- Authors
- Ross C, Coleman G, Stojanovska C
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674820309039670