Survey study, 2011
Do Black women and white women have different rates of PMDD?
Black women were less likely to have PMDD than white women (2.9% versus 4.4%), even after accounting for smoking, weight, income, depression, and many other factors. The reason for this difference is not yet clear.
What they did
Researchers analyzed data from 2,590 American women aged 18-40 (1,672 Black women and 918 white women) from national surveys. They used statistical modeling to compare PMDD rates between racial groups while adjusting for many other factors.
What they found
Black women were significantly less likely than white women to experience PMDD (odds ratio 0.44, 95% CI 0.25-0.79). PMDD prevalence was 2.9% in Black women and 4.4% in white women. Black women also had lower rates of premenstrual symptoms (odds ratio 0.64). These differences remained significant after adjusting for marital status, employment, education, smoking, weight, contraceptive use, age, income, mood disorders, and social desirability.
What it means for you
Black women appear to have lower PMDD rates than white women, even after carefully accounting for other health and social factors. This is unusual for a health condition and suggests possible protective factors. The study was rigorous and used national survey data with careful statistical adjustment, but was cross-sectional. Further research is needed to understand what may protect Black women.
2.9%
PMDD prevalence in Black women
4.4%
PMDD prevalence in white women
0.44
Odds ratio comparing Black to white women
About the study
- Original title
- Health advantage for black women: patterns in pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Pilver CE, Kasl S, Desai R et al.
- Journal
- Psychological medicine
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 1,672
- What was tested
- Multivariate analysis of PMDD and demographic factors
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1017/s0033291710002321
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