Study, 1998
Do different age groups of women view the menstrual cycle as a cause of mood changes differently?
Yes. Younger women under 18 were significantly more likely than older women to say that positive moods during the premenstrual phase were caused by the menstrual cycle.
What they did
Women from four age groups (under 18, 18-34, 35-54, and over 55) read descriptions of a woman experiencing positive or negative moods either during the premenstrual phase or the middle of her cycle. They then said what they thought caused the mood.
What they found
The under-18 age group did not differ in attributing negative versus positive moods to the cycle. Younger women were significantly more likely to attribute premenstrual positive moods to the menstrual cycle compared to all other age groups. These findings were consistent with earlier research from the 1980s, but revealed new differences between age groups.
What it means for you
Younger British women today may view the menstrual cycle more positively than previous generations. This study only included British women and used hypothetical scenarios rather than measuring real experiences.
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Age groups compared
About the study
- Original title
- The generation gap in menstrual cycle attributions
- Authors
- Stephen Lawlor, Precilla Y. L. Choi
- Journal
- British Journal of Health Psychology
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8287.1998.tb00572.x