Premenstrual and menstrual mood changes in adolescent women.

Abstract

One hundred fifty-eight female subjects aged 15-16 years completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and reported the actual date of onset of the next two menstrual periods. These female high school students and their male classmates were later given The Depression Adjective Check List and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory twice, 2 weeks apart, in an unrelated classroom setting. This study assessed the magnitude of anxiety and depression experienced by the 29 adolescents who were tested within 4 days preceding the onset of menstruation and the 23 adolescents who were tested during the first 4 days of menstruation. Premenstrual and menstrual test scores were compared with those obtained during the intermenstrual phase of the cycle. No significant differences in mood attributable to cycle phase were found. A control group of males also showed no significant difference in mood. Adolescent women appear to be different from women over 30 who have been reported to show significantly increased state anxiety and depression during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle.

Menstrual Cycle Symptomatology: The Role of Social Expectancy and Experimental Demand Characteristics

“…These findings appear to indicate menstrual phase somatic complaints for teenagers and the highest incidence of premenstrual complaints among women over the age of 30 (4,41). It could be argued that premenstrual distress is a learned phenomenon based on years of menstrual phase discomfort and exposure to social expectations.…”

Perimenstrual symptoms: prevalence and risk factors.

“…Most studies of normal young women tend to find somewhat smaller cyclical changes with concurrent as compared to retrospective measurement (26,(54)(55)(56). But many of these studies are hard to interpret, as they have used different measurement procedures to assess symptoms retrospectively and concurrently (e.g., 26,55,57). To address this issue adequately, retrospective and concurrent symptom reports should be obtained on the same or a directly comparable version of one instrument.…”

Prospective versus retrospective assessment of Menstrual cycle symptoms and moods: Role of Attitudes and beliefs

“…McFarland et al (1989, p. 524) reported that "cyclical variation in symptoms is more likely and more extreme in studies where subjects report their symptoms retrospectively ... retrospective reports may better reflect women's cultural stereotypes about menstruation than they do women's actual experiences with menstruation." Fewer moods and symptoms have been reported when the salience of the menstrual cycle is not apparent (Aubuchon & Calhoun, 1985;Englander-Golden eta!., 1978;Golub & Harrington, 1981). These studies suggest the importance of cultural beliefs and attitudes in the experience of menstrual cycle moods and symptoms.…”

“…There are pervasive cultural beliefs that women tend to experience perimenstrual increases in pain, abdominal swelling; headaches, irritability, and moods such as depression and tension (Brooks-Gunn & Ruble, 1980, 1986Ruble & Brooks-Gunn, 1979;Clarke & Ruble, 1978;Laws, Hey, & Eagan, 1985). Although some studies have failed to confirm these effects (e.g., Golub & Harrington, 1981;Lahmeyer, Miller, & DeLeon-Jones, 1982;Slade, 1984), it appears that a complex interplay among biological, sociocultural and psychological variables gives rise to menstrual cycle moods and symptoms (Friedman, Hurt, Arnoff, & Clarkin, 1980). The prevailing view is that menstrual cycle moods and symptoms are related to fluctuations in female sex hormones (Ascher-Svanum, 1984;EnglanderGolden et al, 1978;Slade, 1984).…”