---
title: Is a history of bad premenstrual tension linked to low mood after giving birth?
description: Yes. Women who reported having bad premenstrual tension in the past were more likely to have low mood scores in the days after giving birth.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/maternity-blues-iii-associations-with-obstetric-psychological-and-psychiatric-1989/
---

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- Is a history of bad premenstrual tension linked to low mood after giving birth?

Survey study, 1989

# Is a history of bad premenstrual tension linked to low mood after giving birth?

Yes. Women who reported having bad premenstrual tension in the past were more likely to have low mood scores in the days after giving birth.

 Moderate study design

106 women assessed during pregnancy and after childbirth.

## What they did

106 women were interviewed by a psychiatrist at two points during pregnancy (weeks 14-16 and weeks 36-38) and again 12 weeks after giving birth. Every day for 10 days after giving birth, they filled out a questionnaire about their low mood (blues). Researchers looked at what was linked to higher blues scores.

## What they found

Blues scores were linked to being naturally nervous, anxiety and depression during pregnancy, fear of labor, poor social adjustment, and having had bad premenstrual tension in the past. Blues scores were not linked to complications during pregnancy or delivery, previous psychiatric problems, or psychiatric status during pregnancy or 12 weeks after birth.

## What it means for you

A history of bad premenstrual tension may be a sign that a woman is at higher risk for low mood after giving birth. The main limit is this is one study in one location.

106

women studied

10

days of low mood tracking after birth

## About the study

Original title Maternity blues. III. Associations with obstetric, psychological, and psychiatric factors Authors Kennerley H, Gath D Journal The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science Year 1989 Study design Survey study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1192/bjp.155.3.367](https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.155.3.367)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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