Case-control study, 2015
Do women with PMS focus more on themselves when stressed?
Women with PMS and PMDD report using more self-focused attention when stressed, even when their level of negative emotion is similar to women without PMS. This inward focus may increase their distress during the menstrual cycle.
What they did
Case-control study of 52 women (24 with premenstrual disorders including PMS or PMDD, 28 healthy controls). Researchers categorized women based on retrospective report, clinical interview, and 30 days of symptom tracking. In laboratory stress tasks, they measured how much women focused on themselves.
What they found
Women with premenstrual disorders reported greater self-focused attention in response to negative emotions from laboratory tasks than controls, despite no significant difference in negative affect levels between groups. Women with premenstrual disorders also reported higher trait self-focused attention and more maladaptive coping styles in daily life.
What it means for you
Women with PMS and PMDD may respond to menstrual cycle changes by focusing attention inward, which increases distress. Psychological approaches teaching outward focus or problem-solving might help. However, the study is small and lab-based, and it is unclear whether self-focused attention causes or results from PMS symptoms.
24
women with premenstrual disorders
28
healthy control women
30 days
symptom tracking period
About the study
- Original title
- Self-focused attention in response to laboratory stressors among women with premenstrual disorders
- Authors
- Craner JR, Sigmon ST, Martinson AA
- Journal
- Archives of women's mental health
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 52
- What was tested
- None; observational study, though in laboratory stress tasks
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0505-4
Topics
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