Review, 2002
Does noticing bodily changes cause PMS symptoms?
Women who pay close attention to bodily sensations experienced mood changes with their cycle, while women who do not notice bodily cues showed no cycle effects. Reminding cycle-aware women of their cycle stage prevented symptoms.
What they did
Two studies where researchers measured whether women notice bodily sensations and tracked mood changes across a 60-day menstrual cycle.
What they found
In Study 1, women responsive to bodily cues showed significant mood changes (both negative and positive) with their cycle over 60 days, while women unresponsive to bodily cues showed no consistent cycle effects. In Study 2, women whose moods were based on bodily cues rated their moods as less positive in their premenstrual week; women unresponsive to their bodies were unaffected by their cycle. A reminder of cycle-stage prevented PMS in the body-cue-responsive group.
What it means for you
PMS may partly result from how women interpret bodily sensations rather than just hormones. If you notice bodily changes, being aware of your cycle stage may actually worsen symptoms. The studies are small and limited to one theory about perception.
60 days
study length
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Syndrome and Misattribution: A Self-Perception, Individual Differences Perspective
- Authors
- Simone Schnall, Adelpha Abrahamson, James D. Laird
- Journal
- Basic and Applied Social Psychology
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Reminder of cycle stage
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1207/s15324834basp2403_4
Topics
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