Cohort study, 2013
Do women who are prone to anxiety experience more severe menstrual symptoms?
Women with higher anxiety sensitivity reported greater menstrual symptoms regardless of which phase of their cycle they were in, compared to women with lower anxiety sensitivity. This suggests anxiety sensitivity may be an important factor in how severe menstrual symptoms feel.
What they did
55 community women tracked menstrual symptoms daily across at least one full menstrual cycle using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems. They also completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire once during their premenstrual phase and once during their follicular phase.
What they found
Women with higher levels of anxiety sensitivity reported greater menstrual-related symptoms, regardless of cycle phase, as compared to women with lower levels of anxiety sensitivity. The findings suggest that anxiety sensitivity may be an important psychological factor involved in the experience of both psychological and somatic symptoms across the menstrual cycle.
What it means for you
A psychological trait like anxiety sensitivity appears linked to how severe menstrual symptoms feel. The sample is small and from the community, which limits how broadly results apply. The study is observational so cannot prove anxiety causes more symptoms.
55
community women
at least 1
full menstrual cycle tracked by each woman
About the study
- Original title
- The role of anxiety sensitivity in the experience of menstrual-related symptoms reported via daily diary
- Authors
- Nillni YI, Rohan KJ, Mahon JN et al.
- Journal
- Psychiatry research
- Year
- 2013
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 55
- What was tested
- None (observational study of anxiety sensitivity)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.07.016
Topics
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