The study was conducted within ABCD, one of the cohorts connected to Amsterdam Cohort Hub, and included 876 young women aged 19–21. Researchers examined the relationship between menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea, psychological challenges, and limitations in daily functioning.
Menstrual pain and daily functioning
More than three-quarters of participants (77.2%) reported moderate to severe menstrual pain. More severe menstrual pain was strongly associated with greater limitations in daily life, including at school or work, during sports, and in social activities.
The researchers found that the relationship between menstrual pain and limitations in daily functioning was stronger among women with fewer psychological challenges, such as emotional problems or attention/hyperactivity problems. One possible explanation is that when daily functioning is already substantially affected by psychological challenges, the additional impact of menstrual pain may be less visible on the scale used to measure daily functioning.
Limitations in daily life
Overall, menstrual pain itself emerged as the most important factor associated with limitations in daily life.
The findings underline the need for greater attention to menstrual pain and its impact on daily functioning. The researchers also call for further longitudinal research to better understand how menstrual pain and mental health influence each other over time.
The study was conducted by Marlies Visser, Siyu Zhou, Judith Huirne, Susanne de Rooij, and Tanja Vrijkotte, in connection with the ABCD cohort, Amsterdam UMC, and Amsterdam Reproduction and Development.
Read the full publication: Psychological challenges and the relationship between menstrual pain severity and daily life interference in young adult women: A cross-sectional analysis of a population-based birth cohort