---
title: Does personality type affect whether women develop premenstrual tension?
description: Standard personality tests did not show that personality type predicts premenstrual tension, but women did report higher anxiety and more symptoms during the
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/personality-and-menstruation-1980/
---

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- Does personality type affect whether women develop premenstrual tension?

Study, 1980

# Does personality type affect whether women develop premenstrual tension?

Standard personality tests did not show that personality type predicts premenstrual tension, but women did report higher anxiety and more symptoms during the menstrual phase.

 Early or limited evidence

80 women aged 21-30, with and without children, both single and married

## What they did

Researchers measured personality and anxiety in 80 women (including those with and without children) at different points in their menstrual cycle. The women ranged from 21 to 30 years old and included both single and married women.

## What they found

During the menstrual phase, women reported higher anxiety compared to non-menstrual times and reported more breast, urinary, and pelvic symptoms. Standard personality tests did not show differences between women with and without premenstrual symptoms.

## What it means for you

Higher anxiety during menstruation may partly explain why women report more symptoms at that time, but personality type alone does not predict who gets premenstrual tension. The limitation is that the study did not track other factors that might affect anxiety.

80

women studied

21-30

age range in years

## About the study

Original title Personality and menstruation Authors Awaritefe A, Awaritefe M, Diejomaoh FM et al. Journal Psychosomatic medicine Year 1980 Study design Study Participants 40 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00006842-198003000-00002](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-198003000-00002)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Legal and forensic](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-legal-crime/)

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