Influence of Personality and Sex-role Identification on the Menstrual Distress among Women

Abstract

The expansion of knowledge about menstrual cycle asserts that psychological attributes play an important mediating role in menstrual disturbances gaining noteworthy attention in the health care sector. The purpose of this study was to highlight the effect personality and sexrole identification has on menstrual distress using a cross-sectional research design. The study participants were 100 women in the age range of 18 to 40 years who were administered Menstrual Distress Questionaire, Eysenck Personality Questionaire and Bem’s Sex-role Inventory.Results found significant differences in menstrual distress with regards to education, occupation and cycle length. Asignificant moderate positive correlation was seen between menstrual distress and personality dimensions of psychoticism (p< 0.01) and neuroticism (p < 0.01). Femininity showed significant inverse relationship (p < 0.05) whereas masculinity showed a positive relationship with the menstrual distress.The results signify the need for intervention strategies focusing more onindividualized education programs, counselling, and coping strategies considering the association of personality and gender roles on menstrual distress as opposed to adhering only to the medical models of treatment.