Study, 2003
Do your family relationships affect your period symptoms?
Yes, according to interviews with women. Period symptoms were closely tied to family relationships and how family members responded to their feelings.
What they did
Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with women who had moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms. During these interviews, women talked about how they experienced their symptoms within their families and relationships.
What they found
Women's period symptoms were closely connected to family stress and responsibilities. When family members dismissed women's feelings as just being PMS or did not take them seriously, it affected how women experienced their symptoms. Many women held back their true feelings rather than sharing them with family.
What it means for you
Family relationships affect your period symptoms. Family stress, responsibilities, and how family responds to your emotions matter. Treatment should address relationships, not just medicines. The limitation is that this study was based on interviews with one group, so findings may not apply to everyone.
About the study
- Original title
- The ongoing silencing of women in families: an analysis and rethinking of premenstrual syndrome and therapy
- Authors
- Jane Maria Ussher
- Journal
- Journal of Family Therapy
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None; this was qualitative research about how women experience PMS in families
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.00257
Topics
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