---
title: Do moods change during different phases of the menstrual cycle?
description: In this study, most university women aged 18-30 did not experience clear changes in mood or psychological distress during different cycle phases. Even women w
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/fluctuations-in-mood-and-psychological-distress-during-the-menstrual-cycle-1984/
---

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- Do moods change during different phases of the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 1984

# Do moods change during different phases of the menstrual cycle?

In this study, most university women aged 18-30 did not experience clear changes in mood or psychological distress during different cycle phases. Even women who attended a psychiatric clinic showed no clear changes.

 Early or limited evidence

162 and 138 university women aged 18-30, mostly single without children, some with emotional problems

## What they did

Two separate studies of university women. Study 1 included 162 randomly selected women, Study 2 included 138 women from a psychiatric clinic. All completed questionnaires about depression, anxiety, and psychological distress without knowing the study was about mood changes during their cycle.

## What they found

In Study 1, there were no clear differences in depression, anxiety, or psychological distress between cycle phases. In Study 2, even among women with emotional problems, no increase in mood disturbance or psychological distress was found during any cycle phase.

## What it means for you

Most young university women do not experience significant mood swings linked to their menstrual cycle. However, some women do have distressing cyclical mood changes. The main limit is that the study only looked at women aged 18-30 who were mostly single without children.

162

Women in Study 1

138

Women in Study 2

18-30

Age range

## About the study

Original title Fluctuations in mood and psychological distress during the menstrual cycle Authors O'Neil MK, Lancee WJ, Freeman SJ Journal Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie Year 1984 Study design Survey study Participants 162 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/070674378402900502](https://doi.org/10.1177/070674378402900502)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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