Interview study, 1995
How should we study and understand premenstrual syndrome?
The researchers argue that current PMS research is fragmented and incomplete, and that we need better methods that listen to women's experiences and consider their identity and social situation.
What they did
Interviewed 14 women attending a PMS clinic and analyzed their accounts to understand how they experience and discuss their symptoms.
What they found
The analysis showed that PMS is connected to how women see themselves, their female identity, and their social context. Women's experiences of PMS are inseparable from broader social and cultural factors.
What it means for you
To better understand PMS, doctors and researchers need to listen to women's actual experiences, not just count symptoms. The main limit is this was a small qualitative study with only 14 women, so the findings cannot be generalized widely.
10-40%
Estimated proportion of women with serious PMS disruption
14
Women interviewed
About the study
- Original title
- A discourse analytic approach to women's experience of Premenstrual Syndrome
- Authors
- Catherine Swann
- Journal
- Journal of Mental Health
- Year
- 1995
- Study design
- Interview study
- What was tested
- None (qualitative study)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/09638239550037415
Topics
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