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.
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
Topics
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