Survey study, 2020
How do women's feelings about their bodies affect their PMS distress?
Women's distress from PMS is connected to how they feel about their changing bodies during the menstrual cycle, especially feelings of discomfort with weight and appearance. Psychological therapy that helps women accept these changes can reduce this distress.
What they did
Eighty-three women who identified themselves as having PMS answered open-ended survey questions and took part in interviews about their experiences. Researchers analysed how women describe their bodies and their feelings during the premenstrual phase.
What they found
Women described feeling fat and ugly in the premenstrual phase, linked to cultural ideas about how women should look. Women who received psychological therapy that increased their awareness of emotional and embodied change reported greater acceptance of their premenstrual bodies and reduced distress.
What it means for you
How you feel about your body during your cycle matters for your PMS distress. Therapy that helps you accept your body changes may help reduce symptoms. This was a small study based on women's self-reports and interviews, so results may not apply to all women.
83
Participants
all
Self-identified as PMS sufferers
yes
Therapy reduced distress
About the study
- Original title
- “I feel fat and ugly and hate myself”: Self-objectification through negative constructions of premenstrual embodiment
- Authors
- Jane Maria Ussher, Janette Perz
- Journal
- Feminism & Psychology
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 83
- What was tested
- Psychological therapy (observed outcome)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/0959353519900196
Topics
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