---
title: How do women's feelings about their bodies affect their PMS distress?
description: Women's distress from PMS is connected to how they feel about their changing bodies during the menstrual cycle, especially feelings of discomfort with weight
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/i-feel-fat-and-ugly-and-hate-myself-self-objectification-through-negative-2020/
---

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- How do women's feelings about their bodies affect their PMS distress?

Survey study, 2020

# How do women's feelings about their bodies affect their PMS distress?

Women's distress from PMS is connected to how they feel about their changing bodies during the menstrual cycle, especially feelings of discomfort with weight and appearance. Psychological therapy that helps women accept these changes can reduce this distress.

 Early or limited evidence

83 women who identified as having PMS

## What they did

Eighty-three women who identified themselves as having PMS answered open-ended survey questions and took part in interviews about their experiences. Researchers analysed how women describe their bodies and their feelings during the premenstrual phase.

## What they found

Women described feeling fat and ugly in the premenstrual phase, linked to cultural ideas about how women should look. Women who received psychological therapy that increased their awareness of emotional and embodied change reported greater acceptance of their premenstrual bodies and reduced distress.

## What it means for you

How you feel about your body during your cycle matters for your PMS distress. Therapy that helps you accept your body changes may help reduce symptoms. This was a small study based on women's self-reports and interviews, so results may not apply to all women.

83

Participants

all

Self-identified as PMS sufferers

yes

Therapy reduced distress

## About the study

Original title “I feel fat and ugly and hate myself”: Self-objectification through negative constructions of premenstrual embodiment Authors Jane Maria Ussher, Janette Perz Journal Feminism & Psychology Year 2020 Study design Survey study Participants 83 What was tested Psychological therapy (observed outcome) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/0959353519900196](https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353519900196)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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