---
title: Does tracking your mood closely make premenstrual mood changes feel worse?
description: Yes. Women who closely monitored their mood reported worse happiness and calmness before their period compared to those who didn't closely track.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/moderating-effects-of-mood-monitoring-on-premenstrual-dysphoria-2006/
---

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- Does tracking your mood closely make premenstrual mood changes feel worse?

Study, 2006

# Does tracking your mood closely make premenstrual mood changes feel worse?

Yes. Women who closely monitored their mood reported worse happiness and calmness before their period compared to those who didn't closely track.

 Early or limited evidence

22 women with self-reported PMS

## What they did

22 women with self-reported PMS tracked their mood and emotions every 2 hours for 31 days, and researchers compared women who monitored closely versus those who didn't.

## What they found

Women who closely tracked their mood had lower happiness and calmness during the premenstrual phase. They also used more reappraisal (reinterpreting their feelings) to manage emotions. However, the worse mood was not caused by changes in emotion management itself. Women who didn't closely monitor actually had enhanced happiness and calmness before their period.

## What it means for you

Paying close attention to your mood changes before your period might make them feel worse and more noticeable. This is based on a very small study of only 22 women who self-reported having PMS.

22

women

31 days

tracking period

## About the study

Original title Moderating effects of mood monitoring on premenstrual dysphoria Authors Terri. Van-Leeson, Peter Totterdell, Brian Parkinson Journal Cognition & Emotion Year 2006 Study design Study What was tested mood monitoring every 2 hours Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/02699930500387519](https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930500387519)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

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.

## Related studies

Cohort study, 2026

What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms?

Study, 2026

How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains?

Systematic review, 2026

Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Case-control study, 2026

Do women with PMS handle emotions differently at different times of the cycle?

Systematic review, 2025

Do people with PMDD and severe PMS have difficulties with emotion regulation?

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with a history of PMS or PMDD have more depression during pregnancy and after birth?

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