Survey study, 1981
Is premenstrual syndrome linked to personality traits?
Among 110 pregnant women, those with more severe PMS had more extreme personality traits, suggesting psychological factors may be involved. However, the study cannot prove personality causes PMS.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 110 women in their 8th month of pregnancy. Women completed personality tests measuring emotionality, acceptance of sexual role, parental aptness, anxiety, and depression, plus overall PMS assessment.
What they found
82% of women had some PMS. Women with severe PMS had more deviation from normal in personality traits. Notably, even women with no PMS symptoms showed personality differences, suggesting both very high and very low PMS may relate to personality disturbance.
What it means for you
There may be a link between personality traits and premenstrual symptoms, though the study was small (110 women) and only looked at pregnant women, not the general population. Cross-sectional design means we cannot prove personality causes PMS or vice versa.
110
women studied
82%
with PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome and personality traits: a study on 110 pregnant patients
- Authors
- Foresti G, Ferraro M, Reithaar P et al.
- Journal
- Psychotherapy and psychosomatics
- Year
- 1981
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 110
- What was tested
- None (observational study)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1159/000287524
Topics
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