---
title: How do coping strategies affect mood across the menstrual cycle in women trying to conceive?
description: Active coping and behavioral engagement reduced evening depression during menstruation. But seeking social support increased anxiety and reduced emotional qua
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-relationship-between-psychological-coping-and-mood-across-the-menstrual-2021/
---

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- How do coping strategies affect mood across the menstrual cycle in women trying to conceive?

Survey study, 2021

# How do coping strategies affect mood across the menstrual cycle in women trying to conceive?

Active coping and behavioral engagement reduced evening depression during menstruation. But seeking social support increased anxiety and reduced emotional quality of life, and using fertility monitoring techniques also increased anxiety.

 Early or limited evidence

58 distressed women with infertility

## What they did

58 distressed women with infertility completed mood assessments twice daily (morning and evening) for one full menstrual cycle. They tracked their coping strategies, use of fertility monitoring techniques, and emotional quality of life.

## What they found

During menstruation, active coping and behavioral engagement were linked with less depression in the evening. Social support seeking was linked with greater anxiety and lower emotional quality of life across all phases. Using fertility monitoring techniques was linked with higher anxiety. Women who used avoidance strategies or sought social support throughout their cycle, or who were optimistic, showed different depression patterns after receiving a negative pregnancy test.

## What it means for you

For women struggling to conceive, some coping strategies like active coping may help reduce mood symptoms, while others like seeking social support and using fertility tracking may worsen anxiety. The study tracked women for only one cycle and included a small sample, so these findings need confirmation in larger studies.

58

women studied

1

menstrual cycle tracked per woman

6.7 vs 5.9

anxiety levels with fertility monitoring use vs without use

## About the study

Original title The relationship between psychological coping and mood across the menstrual cycle among distressed women struggling to conceive Authors Balsom AA, Gordon JL Journal Journal of psychosomatic research Year 2021 Study design Survey study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110465](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110465)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[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/)

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