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Interview study, 2021

Is personality type related to how severe PMS symptoms are?

Yes, women with PMS had significantly higher anxiety and stress scores on personality tests. But the study cannot prove whether personality causes PMS, PMS causes personality changes, or if something else links them.

Early or limited evidence 223 female university students in Iran

What they did

Cross-sectional study at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in Iran in November 2019. 223 female students completed a questionnaire measuring personality traits and PMS symptoms. Researchers used statistical tests to find relationships between neuroticism and PMS severity.

What they found

223 female students participated. 77.6% had PMS. Severity ranged from mild (53.6%), moderate (42%), severe (3.6%), to highly severe (0.7%). Students with PMS scored significantly higher on all personality measures including anxiety, stress, and despair. Mean questionnaire score was 151.72±100.11.

What it means for you

There is a link between personality traits and PMS. But we cannot determine which causes which. This is one study from one university in one country, so results may not apply to all women.

223

female students

77.6%

had PMS

151.72±100.11

mean questionnaire score

About the study

Original title
The Association Between Neuroticism and Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms
Authors
Nosratabadi S, Ahmadi A, Ghazanfarpour M et al.
Journal
Research Square
Year
2021
Study design
Interview study
Participants
223
What was tested
None, observation of personality and PMS relationship
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

Abstract Background and objectives: Premenstrual syndrome includes physical and mental symptoms occurring cyclically during the secretory phase. The present study aimed to specify the association between neuroticism and the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 223 students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2019 November 17. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to analyze the relationship between qualitative variables; stepwise logistic regression was employed to assess the factors affecting the syndrome symptoms, and Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the scores of the Daily Record of Severity of Problems chart in two groups. Findings: 223 female students completed the first stage information. The mean score of the questionnaire was 151.72±100.11. Moreover, 77.6% of the students had the syndrome. The severity of symptoms was mild, moderate, severe, and highly severe in 53.6, 42, 3.6, and 0.7%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between premenstrual syndrome and neuroticism scores. Students with PMS had higher scores in all of the subscales (neuroticism including anxiety, stress, despair,..) (P

Reproduced under CC-BY.

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