--- title: Can changing how women think about their cycle reduce PMS symptoms? description: Women who attended support groups with positive messages about the menstrual cycle reported fewer negative symptoms than a comparison group. This wasn't a ran url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/positively-reframing-perceptions-of-the-menstrual-cycle-among-women-with-1999/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Can changing how women think about their cycle reduce PMS symptoms? Non-randomised trial, 1999 # Can changing how women think about their cycle reduce PMS symptoms? Women who attended support groups with positive messages about the menstrual cycle reported fewer negative symptoms than a comparison group. This wasn't a randomized trial, so we cannot be certain the reframing itself caused the improvement. Early or limited evidence 28 women with premenstrual syndrome in the northeastern United States ## What they did Quasi-experimental study of 28 women with PMS. The experimental group attended health promotion sessions in a university classroom providing peer support and teaching positive reframing of the menstrual cycle. A comparison group did not attend. Symptoms and personal resources were measured. ## What they found Women in the experimental group reported decreased negative symptoms about their cycle and significantly increased personal resources. The paper does not provide specific percentages or effect sizes for these changes. ## What it means for you Peer support and positive thinking about the menstrual cycle may help reduce symptom reports in women with PMS. The main limitation is lack of randomization. The improvement could be due to attention, support, or placebo rather than the reframing specifically. 28 women with PMS studied ## About the study Original title Positively reframing perceptions of the menstrual cycle among women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Morse G Journal Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN Year 1999 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 28 What was tested Health promotion program with peer support and positive reframing psychotherapy Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.1999.tb01981.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.1999.tb01981.x) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) 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 Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Study, 2026 What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2025 Is a negative attitude toward menstruation linked to worse PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2025 How much do women in Shimla know about PMS and how does it affect their lives? Randomised trial, 2024 Can group counseling focused on positive psychology reduce PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2024 Does education about PMS help couples' satisfaction and adjustment? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗