Survey study, 1994
Does the menstrual cycle affect mood and how well women can do physical tasks?
Women reported lower energy and worse mood premenstrually and during menstruation, but their actual performance on a computer task did not change with the menstrual cycle.
What they did
54 women completed mood questionnaires and a computer task (tracking a moving circle with a joystick-controlled dot) at three points during their cycle: premenstrual, menstrual, and ovulatory phases. A control group of men completed the mood questionnaire on three occasions over 28 days.
What they found
Women reported low energy and impaired cognitive function premenstrually and during menstruation. Task performance did not vary with menstrual cycle phase. When the purpose of the test was hidden, typically reported menstrual-cycle effects on performance were not observed reliably.
What it means for you
Women's mood changes with their cycle, but actual ability to do tasks doesn't change. Knowing a study is about menstrual cycles may influence results, suggesting expectations matter. Small study with 54 women.
54
women tested
3
menstrual cycle phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual-cycle effects on mood and perceptual-motor performance
- Authors
- Cockerill IM, Wormington JA, Nevill AM
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic research
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Mood questionnaires and computer performance task
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(94)90029-9
Topics
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