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

Abstract

Prospective vs. retrospective self-reports of menstrual cycle symptoms and moods in users and nonusers of oral contraceptives were investigated. Subjects, aged from 17 to 27 years, included 56 women on the pill and 47 nonusers. The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) quantified physical symptomatology, while the Differential Emotions Scale (DES-IV) measured emotional states. Prospective reports suggested less discernible symptom and mood effects than did retrospective reports. Physical symptoms were significantly higher menstrually than premenstrually, whereas negative affects increased premenstrually. Women on the pill reported significantly fewer symptoms and negative moods than nonusers, although there were no significant differences in positive mood states. Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) scores suggested that nonusers of oral contraceptives found menstruation more debilitating them those "on the pill."

Self‐perception of cognitive changes during pregnancy and the early postpartum: salience and attentional effects

“…Study 1 asked women for retrospective reports of changes experienced during their pregnancy but there is evidence to suggest that retrospective measures may not always produce the same results as prospective measures (e.g. Boyle and Grant, 1992;Yu et al, 1996), and that the latter might be more reliable (e.g. Taffe and Dennerstein, 2000).…”

Aerobic exercise, mood states and menstrual cycle symptoms

“…There are several methodological problems associated with their study, as it was correlational, and retrospective. Numerous studies have found that retrospective reporting of menstrual cycle symptoms results in an exaggeration of responses compared with prospective reporting [9,39,40].…”

Effects of menstrual cycle moods and symptoms on academic performance: a study of senior secondary school students

“…Since the 'trait' version of the MDQ (Form C) was administered, the particular menstrual-cycle phase each student was in on the day of testing was irrelevant, as retrospective reports were obtained from each student (cf. Boyle & Grant, 1992;Grant & Boyle, 1991). Since virtually all students invited to participate in the study did so, the sample probably remained representative of adolescent female students.…”

“…Complaints of adverse menstrual-cycle effects on school grades may derive partially from societal beliefs and expectations (e.g., Boyle & Grant, 1992;Endicott & Halbreich, 1982;Grant & Boyle, 1991;Richardson, 1991), combined with the observation that females more readily admit to negative moodstates (Boyle, 1985a).…”

“…Proneness to negative moods and symptoms is significantly greater during the premenstrual and menstrual phases of the monthly cycle (Backström, Sanders, Leask, Davidson, Warner & Bancroft, 1983;Boyle, 1983Boyle, , 1985bBoyle, ,, 1986Boyle & Grant, 1992;DeJong, Rubinow, Roy-Byrne, Hoban, Grover & Post, 1985;Endicott, Nee, Cohen & Halbreich, 1986;Grant & Boyle, 1991;Harrison, Sharpe & Endicott, 1985;Haskett, Steiner, Osmun & Carroll, 1980;MacKenzie, Wilcox & Baron, 1986;Mira, Vizzard & Abraham, 1985;Sampson & Prescott, 1981;Sanders, Warner, Backström & Bancroft, 1983). For example, Haskett, Steiner & Carroll (1980) reported that irritability, restlessness, tension and mood lability were prominent during the premenstruum.…”