Study, 1989
Should researchers combine different moods or track them separately when studying PMS?
Individual moods rise and fall together in women with PMS, so combining them into one score is a good way to track premenstrual mood changes.
What they did
44 women with PMS recorded 7 different moods every day for 2 to 4 menstrual cycles. Researchers analyzed how these moods changed together over time.
What they found
One main mood pattern accounted for about 75% of the variation across the 7 moods tracked. In only 2 out of 44 women was there evidence of a second separate mood pattern. This shows that for nearly all women, the moods rise and fall together.
What it means for you
For measuring premenstrual mood changes, researchers can use a single combined mood score instead of tracking each mood separately. This reflects how moods actually work during the menstrual cycle. Limited by not including women without PMS as a comparison group.
44
women with PMS
75%
variance in main mood component
2
women with a second mood pattern
About the study
- Original title
- The use of combined mood scores in studying the premenstrual syndrome: does it clarify or muddy the picture?
- Authors
- Wells JE, Metcalf MG, Livesey JH
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None - observational study tracking daily moods
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674828909016686
Topics
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