Survey study, 2025
Does anxiety and emotion regulation change across the menstrual cycle in women with PMS and PMDD?
Yes, women with PMS and PMDD showed higher anxiety sensitivity and worse emotion regulation during the luteal phase compared to those without these conditions.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 150 female students assigned to three groups (PMS, PMDD, and control) based on clinical interviews and screening tools. Researchers measured anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation difficulties using standard assessment scales.
What they found
Women with PMS and PMDD had higher anxiety sensitivity and greater difficulties with emotion regulation compared to controls, especially during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycle phase significantly affected emotional functioning in all measures.
What it means for you
If you have PMS or PMDD, your anxiety and trouble managing emotions are likely worse in the luteal phase (second half of your cycle). This study is small and cross-sectional, so it does not prove that PMS causes these problems.
150
Female students
3
Groups studied (PMS, PMDD, control)
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual Phase Associations With Transdiagnostic Psychological Factors: Evidence From Women With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and Premenstrual Syndrome
- Authors
- Rezvan Torabi, Farzad Nasiri, Fateh Rahmani
- Journal
- Women s Reproductive Health
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 150
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2025.2542314
Topics
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