Personality Facets, Psychological Distress and Coping in Indian Females with Premenstrual Symptoms

Background: Premenstrual symptoms are a biological fluctuation among menstruating females, possessing a substantial psychosocial basis. As an archetypal phenomenon shaping individual and societal perspectives of women, they require consistent study, particularly in the Indian context. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between the severity of premenstrual symptoms, personality facets, psychological distress, and coping among menstruating Indian females. Methods: Through purposive sampling, 111 women, between 20 and 40 years of age, from India, were included for the study. Standardized tools to assess personality facets, premenstrual symptoms, psychological distress, and coping were used. Results: Results indicated that the majority (65%) of the sample experienced mild/no premenstrual symptoms, almost a third (28%) experienced moderate extent of symptoms, and 7% experienced severe levels of symptoms. A significant positive relationship was identified between conscientiousness, depression, and premenstrual symptom severity. Significant differences in anxiety, stress, and neuroticism were identified between the no/mild symptoms, moderate symptoms, and severe premenstrual symptoms groups. Findings also suggest that maladaptive coping strategies may be a state-based deficit of the premenstrual period. Conclusions: The results suggest that premenstrual symptoms are not an isolated phenomenon, and carry key associations with broader mental-health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and stress, along with personality facets like neuroticism and conscientiousness. Hence the need for a holistic conceptualization and diverse interventions at various levels is indicated to reduce the burden of premenstrual symptoms and improve the quality of life of Indian women.