Survey study, 2007
Do personality traits and family support affect how bad premenstrual symptoms are?
Yes. Women with perfectionism had worse PMS, and having supportive relationships with their mother and partner helped reduce this effect.
What they did
Cross-sectional study. Women in a community sample completed a questionnaire about perfectionism, need for approval, timidity, and support from their mother and partner. Premenstrual symptoms were measured daily for more than 2 months.
What they found
Perfectionism and low maternal support were associated with premenstrual symptoms. Social support from both mother and partner moderated the impact of perfectionism on physical symptoms.
What it means for you
Personality traits and quality of family relationships matter for PMS severity. These findings suggest community-based prevention programs focused on support and personality factors could help. The study did not state sample size.
2+
months of daily symptom tracking
2
key family relationships examined
1
key personality factor linked to symptoms (perfectionism)
About the study
- Original title
- Psychosocial associates of premenstrual symptoms and the moderating role of social support in a community sample
- Authors
- Haywood A, Slade P, King H
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic research
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.07.024
Topics
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