Survey study, 2017
Does fear of period pain affect mood and thinking during the menstrual cycle?
Yes. Women expecting severe period pain showed increased anxiety and depression and slower thinking response during the premenstrual phase, suggesting that fear of pain affects emotions and cognition.
What they did
40 women aged 21 to 51 with regular menstrual cycles were tested during two cycle phases (follicular and premenstrual, 3 to 5 days before their period). They completed emotional response tests and questionnaires about mood, anxiety, and pain levels.
What they found
Women reporting higher levels of pain (pain score above 7, n=7) had the longest reaction times on the emotional response test during the premenstrual phase compared to those with mild pain (pain score 1 to 3, n=22). Depression levels correlated with emotional response test performance during the premenstrual phase.
What it means for you
Anticipating period pain affects emotional responses and thinking speed. This suggests that addressing fear and anxiety about pain might help improve mood. The study is small and most participants reported mild pain, so results may not apply to women with severe pain.
40
women studied
7
with severe pain
22
with mild pain
About the study
- Original title
- Using a Menstrual Emotional Stroop Task Test (MEST) to Measure Emotional Responses to Menstrual Cycle Pain
- Authors
- Summer F. Acevedo
- Journal
- MOJ Anatomy & Physiology
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 22
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.15406/mojap.2017.03.00100
Topics
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