Predictability, attentional focus, sex role orientation, and menstrual-related stress

Two separate studies assessed the influence on menstrual distress and related inhibition of such variables as predictability of onset, dispositional susceptibility to cultural expectations, and the attentional focus provided by labels. Greater predictability of onset was associated with more positive feedlings about menstruation in spite of more severe distress. More feminine subjects reported more severe distress, while masculinity was related inversely to inhibition. Subjects reported less distress when the symptoms to which they responded were labeled as related to menstruation. Similarly, subjects' ratings of their general health status were not related to menstrual distress scores if the symptoms were labeled menstrual. Findings are discussed with respect to greater integration of menstrual research into the literature on pain and stress generally.