Survey study, 2016
What psychological and social factors affect how bad PMS symptoms are?
Poor coping strategies, perfectionism, depression history, and having children were linked to worse symptoms. Better partner support and healthier coping were linked to better outcomes.
What they did
Online survey of 1,239 women and transgendered menstruators. Participants answered questions about psychological factors like coping styles, perfectionism, depression history, partner support, and their level of premenstrual distress.
What they found
Several psychosocial factors were linked to higher premenstrual distress: poor coping (adjusting energy, avoiding harm), self-silencing, perfectionism, depression history, and having children. Factors linked to lower distress were healthy coping (awareness and acceptance), good partner relationships, more partner support, and believing PMS has psychological and social causes, not just biological ones. These psychosocial factors explained 32% of the variation in premenstrual distress.
What it means for you
How you cope, your relationship quality, and whether you have support all matter for PMS symptoms, not just biology alone. This suggests psychological support and coping strategies could help. This was an online survey with self-selected participants, which may not represent all women.
1,239
women and transgendered menstruators surveyed
32%
of symptoms explained by psychosocial factors
About the study
- Original title
- Psychosocial Factors Associated with Premenstrual Distress
- Authors
- Ina Rosvall, Sandra Ekholm
- Journal
- Women s Reproductive Health
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 1,239
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2016.1237715
Topics
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