---
title: Do stress and how you were raised affect premenstrual symptoms?
description: Yes. Stress and traditional upbringing both influence premenstrual symptoms, especially mood changes. Mood changes appear to be the most important cause of pr
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/relationship-of-socialization-and-stress-to-perimenstrual-symptoms-disability-1985/
---

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- Do stress and how you were raised affect premenstrual symptoms?

Survey study, 1985

# Do stress and how you were raised affect premenstrual symptoms?

Yes. Stress and traditional upbringing both influence premenstrual symptoms, especially mood changes. Mood changes appear to be the most important cause of premenstrual disability.

 Moderate study design

179 women aged 18 to 35

## What they did

Researchers interviewed 179 women aged 18 to 35 about their sex role socialization, recent stressful events, premenstrual symptoms, and attitudes toward menstruation. They analyzed which factors most influenced premenstrual symptoms and disability.

## What they found

Exposure to stressful situations was useful in explaining cyclic symptoms of negative mood. Negative mood symptoms were the most important cause of disability during the premenstrual period. Traditional upbringing, intense negative mood symptoms, and related disability all influenced how women felt about menstruation.

## What it means for you

This suggests both stress exposure and how women were socialized affect their premenstrual symptoms. Mood changes appear to be the main driver of premenstrual disability. The main limit is this is a cross-sectional study, so we cannot know if stress causes symptoms or if symptoms make people notice stress more.

179

women

18-35

age range

## About the study

Original title Relationship of socialization and stress to perimenstrual symptoms, disability, and menstrual attitudes Authors Woods NF Journal Nursing research Year 1985 Study design Survey study Participants 179 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00006199-198505000-00004](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-198505000-00004)

## Topics

[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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