---
title: Does the menstrual cycle affect daily mood, and does anxiety or rumination change this effect?
description: Calmness was higher during menstrual and luteal phases. Women with high anxiety and rumination experienced worse irritability before their period, while those
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/anxiety-and-rumination-moderate-menstrual-cycle-effects-on-mood-in-daily-life-2016/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle affect daily mood, and does anxiety or rumination change this effect?

Survey study, 2016

# Does the menstrual cycle affect daily mood, and does anxiety or rumination change this effect?

Calmness was higher during menstrual and luteal phases. Women with high anxiety and rumination experienced worse irritability before their period, while those with low anxiety were protected from mood worsening.

 Moderate study design

59 women aged 18-44 with natural menstrual cycles

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 59 women aged 18-44 between January and October 2012. Participants used smartphones to rate their mood ten times per day for 8 days across their menstrual cycle, covering menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and late luteal phases. Anxiety and rumination were measured with questionnaires.

## What they found

Women reported higher calmness during the luteal and menstrual phases compared to follicular and ovulatory phases. Highly anxious and ruminative women showed increased irritability, while women with lower anxiety and rumination were protected against mood deterioration toward the end of the cycle.

## What it means for you

How much the menstrual cycle affects mood depends on a woman's anxiety levels and tendency to ruminate. Women with high anxiety and rumination may benefit from addressing these traits to prevent premenstrual mood changes. The study is small and may not represent all women. It measures mood in daily life rather than retrospective reports, which is more accurate.

59

women studied

10 times per day

mood assessments

8 days

tracked per cycle

## About the study

Original title Anxiety and rumination moderate menstrual cycle effects on mood in daily life Authors Welz A, Huffziger S, Reinhard I et al. Journal Women & health Year 2016 Study design Survey study What was tested None (daily mood tracking study) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2015.1101739](https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2015.1101739)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Apps and digital interventions](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-digital-health/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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