Survey study, 1977
Do women perceive more tension and pressure just before their period?
Yes, women not taking birth control pills perceived significantly more pressure just before and during menstruation compared to mid-cycle. Women on birth control pills had stable perceptions throughout their cycle.
What they did
Researchers studied 79 people (men and women, some on birth control pills, some not). Over two weeks, participants watched videos of interpersonal interactions and rated how much pressure they felt in each scene. Researchers tracked whether these ratings changed with the menstrual cycle.
What they found
Women not on birth control pills showed large changes in how they rated pressure, perceiving more in the premenstrual and menstrual phases than at mid-cycle. Women on birth control pills and men showed much more stable ratings. Women reporting more premenstrual symptoms showed the biggest shifts.
What it means for you
How women perceive interpersonal stress changes with their menstrual cycle. Birth control pills reduced this pattern, suggesting hormonal influence. This is a small 1977 study that doesn't explain why this happens or whether it affects daily functioning.
79
people studied
2 weeks
duration between test sessions
About the study
- Original title
- Stability of perceived tension as a function of the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Englander-Golden P, Willis KA, Dienstbier RA
- Journal
- Journal of human stress
- Year
- 1977
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 79
- What was tested
- Birth control pill use (observed, not assigned)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/0097840x.1977.9936083
Topics
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