The possible protective role of personality dimensions against premenstrual syndrome

Factors Associated with the Prevalence and Severity of Menstrual-Related Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study aimed to identify factors associated with the prevalence and severity of menstrual-related symptoms. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021208432). We conducted literature searches of PubMed and Ichushi-Web and used the Jonna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist to assess the quality. Of the 77 studies included in the meta-analysis, significant odds ratios (ORs) were obtained for eight factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea (PD): age ≥ 20 years (OR: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04−1.34), body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2 (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.01−2.26), longer menstrual periods (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04−0.28), irregular menstrual cycle (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.13−1.45), family history of PD (OR: 3.80; 95% CI: 2.18−6.61), stress (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.30−2.72), sleeping hours < 7 h (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.04−1.35), and bedtime after 23:01 (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.16−1.45). Two factors were associated with severity of PD (moderate vs. severe): BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.01−3.54) and smoking (OR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.08−3.47). PD severity (mild vs. severe) and prevalence of premenstrual syndrome were associated with BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.04−3.50) and smoking (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.31−2.66), respectively. The identified risk factors could be utilized to construct an appropriate strategy to improve menstrual symptoms and support women’s health.

Roles of childhood maltreatment, personality traits, and life stress in the prediction of severe premenstrual symptoms

BACKGROUND

About 3% to 8% of women of fertile age are thought to have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is regarded as a serious form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), although the details of this common condition remain unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the interrelations of childhood maltreatment, personality traits, and life stress in the etiology of PMS/PMDD.

METHODS

A total of 240 adult female volunteers from a community in Japan were investigated, using the following 5 questionnaires: Patient Health Quesstionaire-9, Child Abuse and Trauma Scale, Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Life Experiences Survey, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) scale. The questionnaire data were subjected to path analyses to clarify the association between childhood maltreatment and the severity of premenstrual symptoms, mediated by personality traits and life stress.

RESULTS

The 2 path analysis models showed that high harm avoidance (HA) on the TCI and low self-directedness (SD) on the TCI had significant direct effects on the severity of premenstrual symptoms. Moreover, childhood maltreatment was associated with the severity of premenstrual symptoms, both directly and indirectly through personality traits.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that HA on the TCI might be a risk factor for severe premenstrual symptoms among general women and furthermore that SD on the TCI may be a protective factor. In addition, childhood maltreatment is associated with severe premenstrual symptoms both directly and indirectly through personality traits.

Are premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea related to the personality structure of women? A descriptive relation-seeker type study

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to define the relationship of experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea with the personality structure of women.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample of this descriptive relation-seeker-type study comprised 353 women. Data were collected using the PMS Scale, Quick Big Five Personality Test, and The Questionnaire Form between 1 April and 31 August 2019 in a city in the Mediterranean region in Turkey.

FINDINGS

There was a weak negative-biased correlation between PMS and extraversion, a very weak negative-biased correlation between PMS and conscientiousness, a moderate negative-biased correlation between PMS and neuroticism, and a very weak positive-biased significant correlation between PMS and openness (P < .05).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

These data suggest that women who are introverted, have weak self-confidence, tend to have negative feelings such as anxiety, depression, and anger, and have weak coping skills are at risk for experiencing PMS.

The effect of cognitive behavioural psycho-education on premenstrual syndrome and related symptoms

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a distressing group of symptoms related to menstrual cycle during reproductive age. Its substantial burden on daily function and quality of life, particularly on mental aspects, was to the impetus for this study with the aim of determining the effectiveness of a psycho-educational package on premenstrual syndrome and related symptoms. In a randomized clinical trial, 123 (17-19-year-old) adolescent girls with PMS were randomized to psycho-educational intervention (including 62 subjects) and control (including 61) groups. The participants completed a demographic questionnaire, premenstrual syndrome symptom daily record scale and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). A paired and two independent samples t-test and chi-squared test were used for analysing data using SPSS statistical package. At the end of the study there was statistically significant decrease in severity of total PMS in intervention compared with control group (P < 0.001). Also, a significant difference in somatization, anxiety and hostility was observed between two groups (P < 0.05). However, depression marginally decreased (P < 0.1) in intervention group, and interpersonal sensitivity was not statistically different between intervention and control groups. Intervention alleviated the severity of PMS and related somatization, anxiety and hostility, yet it could not change the severity of depression and interpersonal sensitivity.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder in East Asia: a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Fluctuations in ovarian steroids during specific phases of the reproductive cycle, such as pre-menstruation, have been hypothesized to contribute to women's increased vulnerability to depression. This current study's goal is to summarize the literature regarding Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) in the East Asian countries of Taiwan, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Japan, and Korea.

METHOD

A Pubmed and Chinese Electronic Periodical Service (CEPS) literature review was conducted using the key words "Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder" along with "Japan," rea," "Taiwan," "Hong Kong," and "Macau." Using these criteria, 17 articles were found. Three articles were excluded because they did not involve PMDD in the aforementioned countries. In addition to this search, an article found in a review of the research on reproductive mental health disorders in China was utilized. That review contained one article regarding PMDD with an English language abstract, which was utilized in this current article.

RESULTS

The rates of PMDD in East Asia (1.3-2.8%) appear to be lower than that seen in the Western literature (3-8%). Many of the risk factors for PMDD were the same in the Eastern and Western literature, although some key differences were found. The few studies on treatment of PMDD in East Asia have shown positive results.

CONCLUSIONS

The rates of PMDD appear to be lower in East Asia, though reasons for this result are discussed. Few studies have been conducted examining the efficacy of psychotropic medications commonly used to treat PMDD in this population.

[Premenstrual symptomatology, somatization and physical anhedonia]

INTRODUCTION

Physical (headache, abdominal pain, e.g.), emotional (irritability, diminution of self-esteem, e.g.) and/or behavioral disturbances (fatigue, decrease of libido, e.g.) appear frequently during the premenstrual phase of menstrual cycles. Of moderate to severe intensity, these varied symptoms sometimes hinder the usual personal, social and/or professional functioning by generating significant suffering. Thus, premenstrual syndrome (PS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD) are closely related to depressive disorders in many prior studies. In spite of solid links associating depression with premenstrual disorders in the literature, the psychological dimension of the premenstrual symptomatology still remains underestimated.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to examine the nature of possible relationships between a moderate premenstrual symptomatology and different modes of information processing with physical and emotional stimuli, such as somatization and physical anhedonia, well-known symptoms of depressive disorders.

METHOD

One hundred and five students in psychology from the François Rabelais university (France), aged between 18 to 50 years old (M=20.98, SD=3.43), were invited to fill in French versions of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire [25] (Moos, 1991), the somatization subscale of the Symptom Check-List 90 [26] (Derogatis & Cleary, 1977), and the Physical Anhedonia Scale [28] (Chapman et al., 1976). Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated and a multiple regression analysis was conducted with Statistica software.

RESULTS

Main results reveal that premenstrual symptomatology is positively related to somatization (r=0.58; P<0.001) and negatively to physical anhedonia (r=-0.27; P<0.05). Physical anhedonia (β=-0.20; P<0.05) and somatization (β=0.55; P<0.001) may take part in the appearance of a premenstrual symptomatology.

CONCLUSION

These results allow us to enrich our knowledge on the origin and the nature of the premenstrual symptomatology, which would be physiological, psychological and social, in order to adapt and widen the therapeutic options by proposing, in parallel with the specific medical treatments, psychological interventions based on cognitive and behavioral techniques aiming a decentralization and a restructuration of the physical symptoms.