--- title: Is how much control women feel over their life linked to premenstrual symptoms? description: Yes. Women who felt they had less control over their circumstances were more likely to have premenstrual symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Women felt especia url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-symptomatology-locus-of-control-anxiety-and-depression-in-women-2003/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is how much control women feel over their life linked to premenstrual symptoms? Survey study, 2003 # Is how much control women feel over their life linked to premenstrual symptoms? Yes. Women who felt they had less control over their circumstances were more likely to have premenstrual symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Women felt especially out of control during the premenstrual phase compared to other times in their cycle. Early or limited evidence 69 women with normal menstrual cycles ## What they did 69 women with normal menstrual cycles filled out four questionnaires: one about premenstrual symptoms, one about how much control they felt over their lives, and one each about anxiety and depression. The researchers looked for patterns and connections between these measures. ## What they found Premenstrual symptoms were significantly linked with feeling less in control, anxiety, and depression. Women who felt less in control were more likely to have depression and anxiety when experiencing premenstrual symptoms. Women were significantly more likely to feel they lacked control during the premenstrual phase compared to the follicular phase or early luteal phase. ## What it means for you Feeling out of control may make premenstrual symptoms feel worse or increase mood problems during that time. However, the study cannot show whether the lack-of-control feeling causes the symptoms, the symptoms cause the feeling, or if both are caused by something else. The study only included women with normal menstrual cycles, not women with PMS. 69 women with normal menstrual cycles ## About the study Original title Premenstrual symptomatology, locus of control, anxiety and depression in women with normal menstrual cycles Authors Lane T, Francis A Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2003 Study design Survey study What was tested None - questionnaires only Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-003-0165-7](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-003-0165-7) ## 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/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) 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 Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Cohort study, 2012 How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms? Review, 1999 Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder? Randomised trial, 2020 How should premenstrual syndrome be diagnosed and treated? Survey study, 2008 Do healthy women without PMDD have mood changes during their menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗