Perception of family and work environments in women with premenstrual syndrome

Abstract

Seventy-three women with a prospectively confirmed diagnosis of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) were compared to 50 routine gynaecological care non-PMS controls on measures of social climate/environmental stress. Tests administered included the Family Environment Scale (FES), Work Environment Scale (WES), Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The PMS group scored significantly higher on amount of conflict in their families as well as on emphasis on ethical and religious values but lower on direct emotional expressiveness within the family, intellectual-cultural orientation, and active-recreational orientation as compared to controls. Furthermore, the PMS group perceived having more work pressure, less autonomy on the job, and less variety in their work than controls. Overall, psychological distress was not associated with increased environmental stress either in the PMS or control groups.