---
title: Do people blame biology for bad moods that occur before menstruation?
description: Yes. People are more likely to explain negative moods before menstruation as caused by biology. They also tend to blame personality rather than the situation
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/an-attributional-approach-to-moods-and-the-menstrual-cycle-1975/
---

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- Do people blame biology for bad moods that occur before menstruation?

Survey study, 1975

# Do people blame biology for bad moods that occur before menstruation?

Yes. People are more likely to explain negative moods before menstruation as caused by biology. They also tend to blame personality rather than the situation when mood does not match what is happening around them.

 Early or limited evidence

Study participants answering questions about mood and menstruation (sample size not reported)

## What they did

Participants answered questions about scenarios. The scenarios varied whether it was before or after menstruation, if the mood was positive or negative, and if the situation was pleasant or unpleasant. Participants explained why the moods happened in each scenario.

## What they found

Biology was judged as important for explaining negative moods occurring premenstrually. When mood did not match the environment, people made personality explanations. When mood matched the environment, people made external situation explanations. People thought emotional behavior reflected personality despite situational factors.

## What it means for you

This study examined beliefs about menstruation and mood, not whether actual mood changes occur. It shows that people have patterns of thinking that link menstruation to mood problems. The abstract does not report sample size or other details.

## About the study

Original title An attributional approach to moods and the menstrual cycle Authors Koeske RW, Koeske GF Journal Journal of personality and social psychology Year 1975 Study design Survey study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1037/h0076504](https://doi.org/10.1037/h0076504)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

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