--- title: Are certain personality traits linked to PMS? | Niyora description: Women with PMS have higher scores on harm avoidance and novelty seeking compared to the general population. These traits are modestly linked to specific sympt url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/personality-factors-in-women-with-premenstrual-syndrome-1995/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are certain personality traits linked to PMS? Survey study, 1995 # Are certain personality traits linked to PMS? Women with PMS have higher scores on harm avoidance and novelty seeking compared to the general population. These traits are modestly linked to specific symptom patterns. Early or limited evidence 157 women with PMS, 20 with major depression, 24 with depression and PMS ## What they did They tested personality in 157 women with PMS using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and compared them with 20 women with major depression and 24 women with both depression and PMS. ## What they found PMS women had significantly higher scores on all three personality dimensions compared to general population norms. Harm avoidance was modestly correlated with depression and physical aches in the premenstrual period. Novelty seeking was modestly correlated with food cravings, headaches, and mood swings. Personality factors only partially characterize PMS. ## What it means for you Certain personality traits appear linked to specific PMS symptom patterns, which might help predict how symptoms will present. However, the sample was small and associations were modest, meaning personality explains only a small part of PMS. 157 Women with PMS 20 Women with major depression 24 Women with depression and PMS ## About the study Original title Personality factors in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Freeman EW, Schweizer E, Rickels K Journal Psychosomatic medicine Year 1995 Study design Survey study Participants 24 What was tested Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199509000-00007](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199509000-00007) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Mood swings and emotion regulation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-emotional-regulation/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Borderline personality disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bpd/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/) 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. ## Related studies Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Cohort study, 2023 Does the menstrual cycle affect how often women have suicidal thoughts? Randomised trial, 2000 How should PMDD be diagnosed and treated? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Randomised trial, 2022 Do hormone pills prevent suicidal thoughts from getting worse around menstruation? Survey study, 2022 How common are premenstrual symptoms, and do they change with age? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗