Survey study, 2026
Do emotional regulation and resilience change during the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?
Women with PMDD have much higher depression and anxiety than other women, especially before their period. Their ability to handle emotions and bounce back from stress is significantly lower during that time.
What they did
Researchers measured depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, and psychological resilience in 58 women with PMDD and 50 healthy controls at three points across their menstrual cycle.
What they found
Women with PMDD had significantly higher depression and anxiety across all phases, with peak symptoms during the late luteal phase. Emotional regulation and psychological resilience declined during the late luteal phase. Women with both PMDD and other mood disorders had even stronger symptoms and lower resilience. Higher resilience correlated with lower depression and anxiety.
What it means for you
PMDD involves emotional dysregulation and reduced resilience, particularly before menstruation. Mood disorders that occur alongside PMDD worsen these symptoms. Building resilience may help, but this was a small cross-sectional study in one location and didn't test a specific treatment.
58
women with PMDD
50
healthy controls
3
menstrual phases examined
About the study
- Original title
- Depression, Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Psychological Resilience in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder During the Late Luteal Phase
- Authors
- Pai-Cheng Lin, Hui-Yuan Liao, Cheng‐Yu Long et al.
- Journal
- Women s Health Reports
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 58
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/26884844261434506
Topics
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