Case report, 2006
Is holding back your feelings related to worse PMS symptoms?
Yes. Women with PMS who suppress their feelings or try to fit traditional ideas of femininity experienced more premenstrual distress. Women with PMS had higher anxiety than the general population.
What they did
Study of 257 women who identified as having PMS. Researchers asked about self-silencing (suppressing feelings), how they saw themselves, and how they coped with symptoms. They also interviewed 2 women in detail.
What they found
Women who suppressed their feelings, felt divided within themselves, or saw themselves from outside reported more premenstrual distress. Anxiety was higher than population norms. Depression was lower than expected based on personality patterns. Partners played an important role in how women experienced and coped with premenstrual change.
What it means for you
How women think about themselves and handle their feelings may affect how much PMS bothers them. Trying to fit traditional feminine roles and suppressing authentic feelings may make symptoms worse. Partners' responses matter. The study only included women who already identified as having PMS, so these findings may not apply to all women.
257
women surveyed
About the study
- Original title
- Women's experience of premenstrual syndrome: a case of silencing the self
- Authors
- Janette Perz, Jane Maria Ussher
- Journal
- Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
- Year
- 2006
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- None, observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/02646830600973883
Topics
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