How do researchers currently measure mood changes in menstrual cycle studies?

The primary objective of this scoping review is to map how mood is defined, conceptualised, operationalised, and assessed within empirical research examining mood across the menstrual cycle in non-clinical populations. This review aims to explore the breadth and diversity of methodological approaches used within the literature, identify patterns and inconsistencies in the conceptualisation and measurement of mood, and highlight gaps requiring further methodological development and research. While clear diagnostic tools exist for clinical conditions like Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), inconsistencies persist in how researchers define, time, and measure mood shifts in community samples. By reviewing observational, mixed-methods, and qualitative studies that track healthy populations across their cycle timelines, this project aims to answer the question: how is mood defined, conceptualised, operationalised and assessed within menstrual cycle research in non-clinical populations?

Reproduced under public-domain.