Survey study, 2026
Does the French version of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire work reliably?
Yes. The French version is reliable and valid for measuring menstrual distress in French-speaking women, though French women reported higher symptom scores than English and Italian versions, particularly about period bleeding.
What they did
Cross-sectional validation study. The questionnaire was translated from English to French with cultural adaptation, then tested with 266 French-speaking women aged 18-50. Researchers checked consistency over time and whether it matched other wellbeing questionnaires.
What they found
The French version showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.84, McDonald's ω = 0.86) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.94). It correlated significantly with age, psychological distress, and premenstrual symptoms. French-speaking women had higher average scores than previous Italian and English validations, particularly on items about menstrual bleeding distress and feelings of being dirty.
What it means for you
The French version is a reliable tool for measuring menstrual distress in French-speaking women. The higher scores suggest cultural differences in how women experience or report period-related distress, which researchers need to investigate further.
266
French-speaking women tested
0.84
internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha)
0.94
test-retest reliability (ICC)
About the study
- Original title
- Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the French version of the menstrual distress questionnaire (MEDI-Q)
- Authors
- Cassioli E, Cassioli F, Bellaert N et al.
- Journal
- Journal of gynecology obstetrics and human reproduction
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 266
- What was tested
- Validation of French translation of Menstrual Distress Questionnaire
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2026.103195
Topics
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