Lab study, 1996
Are women more emotionally reactive during their premenstrual phase?
Yes. Women are more emotionally reactive to anger-provoking situations during their premenstrual phase, especially if they have premenstrual symptoms.
What they did
They put 58 healthy women in a laboratory situation designed to provoke anger. Eighteen were tested during their follicular (pre-ovulation) phase, and 40 during their premenstrual phase. Half of the premenstrual group reported having emotional symptoms, and half did not.
What they found
Both groups showed emotional and physical responses to anger provocation. However, women in the premenstrual phase showed stronger effects on blood pressure and more intense angry behavior compared to the follicular group. Among premenstrual women, those with reported emotional symptoms had different cortisol levels before the test, greater intensity of angry behavior, and reported more anger at the end, compared to those without premenstrual symptoms.
What it means for you
The premenstrual phase makes women more susceptible to strong emotional responses to negative events. Women with premenstrual symptoms showed even larger emotional reactions. This was a controlled laboratory test, so it may not reflect how women react in real life. The study was relatively small.
58
Total women
18
Tested in follicular phase
40
Tested in premenstrual phase
About the study
- Original title
- The premenstrual phase and reactions to aversive events: a study of hormonal influences on emotionality
- Authors
- Van Goozen SH, Frijda NH, Wiegant VM et al.
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 1996
- Study design
- Lab study
- Participants
- 40
- What was tested
- Laboratory anger-provoking task.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(95)00022-4
Topics
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