The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) continues to be an enigma for many: those women who report PMS, for professionals who attempt to treat premenstrual symptoms, and for researchers attempting to identify PMS and to compare treatments. The present study investigated the responses from 86 subjects between the ages 30-45 for their perceptions of daily stress and coping styles by PMS level. Three levels of PMS were formulated by subject responses to the questionnaire (a) PMS for scores within the criteria, (b) Non-PMS for scores lower than the criteria, and (c) Psy-Non-PMS for certain scores higher than the criteria with a psychological, or neurotic, profile. Hassle intensity (daily stress) and coping style, whether problem-focused (P) or emotion-focused (E), were assessed by questionnaire. In addition, help seeking behavior, i.e., whether a woman sought help from a doctor in the past twelve months, was examined but did not significantly relate to level of PMS, hassle intensity, or coping style. Psy-Non-PMS women reported perceiving significantly more hassles and significantly greater use of four of the E coping styles, Detachment, Focusing on the Positive, Self-blame, and Keep to Self, than the Non-PMS women. PMS women endorsed perception of significantly more hassles and significantly greater use of two of the E coping styles, Detachment and Keep to Self, than the Non-PMS women. These E coping styles are consonant with detached, avoidant, escapist, and self-deriding coping mechanisms, typical of depressed and anxious persons. There was some difficulty in differentiating the PMS group from the Psy-Non-PMS group. Only one coping style, Focusing on the Positive, was endorsed by the Psy-Non-PMS group significantly more than the PMS group. Further statistical analysis of the data could determine psychological/behavioral PMS subtypes as distinct from physiological PMS subtypes, providing more clearly defined PMS groups. Future research involving a carefully controlled study for determining PMS levels and utilizing psychotherapy as well as specified medications for treatment of PMS is indicated.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc331078 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Schulte, Murriel Ardath |
| Contributors | Overton, Thomas D., Hayslip, Bert, Burke, Angela J., Sininger, Rollin Albert |
| Publisher | North Texas State University |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | v, 124 leaves : ill., Text |
| Rights | Public, Schulte, Murriel Ardath, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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