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The role of perceived control over anxiety in prospective symptom reports across the menstrual cycle

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Abstract

The present investigation tested the role of psychological vulnerabilities to anxiety in reported menstrual symptom severity. Specifically, the current study tested the incremental validity of perceived control over anxiety-related events in predicting menstrual symptom severity, controlling for the effect of anxiety sensitivity, a documented contributor to menstrual distress. It was expected that women with lower perceived control over anxiety-related events would report greater menstrual symptom severity, particularly in the premenstrual phase. A sample of 49 normally menstruating women, aged 18–47 years, each prospectively tracked their menstrual symptoms for one cycle and completed the Anxiety Control Questionnaire (Rapee, Craske, Brown, & Barlow Behav Ther 27:279–293. doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(96)80018-9, 1996) in their follicular and premenstrual phases. A mixed model analysis revealed perceived control over anxiety-related events was a more prominent predictor of menstrual symptom severity than anxiety sensitivity, regardless of the current cycle phase. This finding provides preliminary evidence that perceived control over anxiety-related events is associated with the perceived intensity of menstrual symptoms. This finding highlights the role of psychological vulnerabilities in menstrual distress. Future research should examine whether psychological interventions that target cognitive vulnerabilities to anxiety may help reduce severe menstrual distress.

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Acknowledgments

This project was conducted as part of a larger study funded under Yael I. Nillni by the National Institute of Mental Health—1R36MH086170-01A1.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, John Dewey Hall, 2 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, VT, 05405-0134, USA

    Jennifer N. Mahon, Kelly J. Rohan & Yael I. Nillni

  2. National Center for PTSD, Women’s Health Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 South Huntington Avenue (116B-3), Boston, MA, 02130-4817, USA

    Yael I. Nillni

  3. Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Yael I. Nillni

  4. University of Houston, Heyne Building Room 129, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX, 77004-5022, USA

    Michael J. Zvolensky

  5. MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

    Michael J. Zvolensky

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  1. Jennifer N. Mahon
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  3. Yael I. Nillni
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  4. Michael J. Zvolensky
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Correspondence to Jennifer N. Mahon.

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Mahon, J.N., Rohan, K.J., Nillni, Y.I. et al. The role of perceived control over anxiety in prospective symptom reports across the menstrual cycle. Arch Womens Ment Health 18, 239–246 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0456-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0456-1

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