---
title: Does repetitive worrying make PMS symptoms worse? | Niyora
description: No. This study of 232 women found that those with higher rumination did not have worse PMS symptoms or different symptom patterns across the menstrual cycle.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-role-of-rumination-in-shaping-emotional-symptom-trajectories-across-the-2023/
---

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- Does repetitive worrying make PMS symptoms worse?

Survey study, 2023

# Does repetitive worrying make PMS symptoms worse?

No. This study of 232 women found that those with higher rumination did not have worse PMS symptoms or different symptom patterns across the menstrual cycle.

 Moderate study design

232 women with natural menstrual cycles, mean age 30.93 years, 59% Caucasian

## What they did

232 women completed a questionnaire about their tendency to ruminate (repetitive thinking), then tracked their emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms daily for 2-3 months using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems.

## What they found

Higher rumination did not predict worse baseline symptoms, faster worsening during the luteal phase (when hormone levels change), or slower recovery after menstruation began. This remained true even when looking only at women with noticeable cycle-related symptoms.

## What it means for you

This challenges the theory that repetitive worrying makes PMS worse. The study used strong methods with a large sample and detailed daily tracking, which strengthens the findings. However, it does not tell us whether rumination has no effect in other groups, or what other factors might explain PMS symptoms.

232

women studied

30.93

mean age in years

2-3 months

daily tracking duration

## About the study

Original title The role of rumination in shaping emotional symptom trajectories across the menstrual cycle Authors Hafsah Tauseef, Tory Anne Eisenlohr-Moul, Susan S. Girdler Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2023 Study design Survey study Participants 232 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106161](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106161)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Reproductive hormone sensitivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-hormone-sensitivity/)

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