Questioning PMS
May 4, 2006
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- An Australian researcher questions the reality of PMS.
Jane Ussher is Professor of Women's Health Psychology and Director of the Gender Culture and Health Research at the University of Western Sydney, Australia. She says while most women have premenstrual physical and psychological changes, only some women are distressed during these changes and position them as PMS.
Ussher argues this distress and self-diagnosis is associated with negative self-judgment, self-silencing, self-sacrifice, over-responsibility and self-blame.
After in-depth interviews with 36 British and 64 Australian women, Ussher argues a woman's premenstrual distress or anger is connected to the self-policing practices women are expected to follow to fulfill their role as a "good" wife or mother -- for example, the positioning of women as emotional nurturers of others.
After finding women in lesbian relationships reported less distress associated with premenstrual changes, greater acceptance from their partner, and less self-policing, Ussher concludes self-policing is especially a concern for heterosexual women.
She says intervention for premenstrual symptoms can help women develop better coping mechanisms for premenstrual anger and depression, instead of blaming their body.
SOURCE: Qualitative Research and Marginalisation Conference, Oadby, Leicester, United Kingdom, May 3-5, 2006
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.