---
title: Do girls' expectations about menstruation affect their later PMS symptoms?
description: Yes. A study of 80 girls found that their expectations about menstrual changes before their first period predicted how they experienced PMS and menstrual symp
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenarcheal-expectations-and-postmenarcheal-experiences-of-positive-and-1996/
---

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- Do girls' expectations about menstruation affect their later PMS symptoms?

Cohort study, 1996

# Do girls' expectations about menstruation affect their later PMS symptoms?

Yes. A study of 80 girls found that their expectations about menstrual changes before their first period predicted how they experienced PMS and menstrual symptoms later.

 Moderate study design

80 adolescent girls followed from grade 6 to grade 9

## What they did

80 girls rated their expectations of 14 positive and negative menstrual changes before their first period (grade 6), then rated their actual experiences within six months after menarche and again in grade 9.

## What they found

Girls' expectations before menarche predicted their experiences after menarche. Both early expectations and early experiences predicted longer-term menstrual symptoms. Ratings of negative changes increased over time after menstruation became established, while ratings of positive changes decreased.

## What it means for you

How girls think about menstruation before it starts may shape how they later experience symptoms. This suggests better education before menarche could improve experiences. However, the study shows association only, not proof that expectations cause different outcomes.

80

girls studied

14

positive and negative changes rated

3

rating occasions across 3 years

## About the study

Original title Premenarcheal expectations and postmenarcheal experiences of positive and negative menstrual related changes Authors Koff E, Rierdan J Journal The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine Year 1996 Study design Cohort study Participants 80 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/1054-139x(95)00131-b](https://doi.org/10.1016/1054-139x(95)00131-b)

## Topics

[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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