Emotional control and premenstrual syndrome : subjectivity and process

This thesis set out to establish a deeper understanding of premenstrual syndrome, focusing particularly on emotional symptoms. A combined methodological approach was adopted, which collected a variety of data. Firstly, from an interview study, it was found that strict emotion rules continue to govern the way inner feelings and outward emotional expressions are permitted to be experienced. Emotion is still gendered, with a core emphasis on maintaining emotional control. In contrast, subjective accounts of premenstrual syndrome portrayed premenstrual emotional experiences as being expressive, often out of control, especially with regard to anger.;Self-awareness, particularly mood awareness, is important in issues for self-control. A diary study conducted over one complete calendar month revealed that a high mood monitoring tendency predicted less positive emotion across the menstrual cycle, than for low mood monitoring. High mood monitoring predicted more frequent attempts at active mood regulation. These results were in the expected direction. Yet high monitoring predicted a greater degree of reported success at mood regulation, which was not predicted. Finally the most successful ways of regulating negative emotions were reported to be diversion strategies, which directed attention away from the way the individual was feeling.;Timing through cyclical phase was not found to be significantly associated with any of the variables highlighted in two studies undertaken as part of this thesis. However when emotion was tracked over time, the premenstrual phase of the cycle was found to be important on emotional experience in that the interaction of this phase with mood monitoring predicted use of diversion strategies. Reasons for this were explored.;Overall premenstrual syndrome continues to have far reaching implications for women at both the practical and theoretical level. There is a risk that their emotional status may be undermined for some of the time, particularly when expressing negative feelings.