---
title: Does how women rate their own premenstrual symptoms match a standard questionnaire?
description: Women's self-rating of symptoms roughly matches a standard questionnaire, but about one-third of women don't recognize they have symptoms even though a formal
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/comparison-of-self-assessment-of-premenstrual-symptoms-with-scores-on-the-1997/
---

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- Does how women rate their own premenstrual symptoms match a standard questionnaire?

Survey study, 1997

# Does how women rate their own premenstrual symptoms match a standard questionnaire?

Women's self-rating of symptoms roughly matches a standard questionnaire, but about one-third of women don't recognize they have symptoms even though a formal questionnaire would identify them as having them.

 Early or limited evidence

267 women, average age 31.4 years

## What they did

267 women with average age 31.4 years rated their premenstrual symptoms using a single self-assessment question and completed the modified Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, comparing the two methods.

## What they found

On self-assessment, 13% reported no symptoms, 43% slight, 37% moderate, and 7% severe (total of 267 women, average age 31.4). The questionnaire average score was 23.5. Almost one-third of women self-assessed differently than the questionnaire classified them, reporting no symptoms when the questionnaire said they had them.

## What it means for you

Women often don't notice their own premenstrual symptoms even when a formal questionnaire would catch them. This matters because women who don't recognize their symptoms may not seek help, even if they need it.

267

women surveyed

31.4

average age

13%

reported no symptoms

## About the study

Original title Comparison of self-assessment of premenstrual symptoms with scores on the modified Menstrual Distress Questionnaire Authors Kirkby RJ, Picone L, Lindner H Journal Psychological reports Year 1997 Study design Survey study Participants 267 What was tested None (assessment comparison) Read the paper [doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1997.81.2.659](https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1997.81.2.659)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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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