Socioemotional correlates of self-reported menstrual cycle irregularity in premenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
Characteristics of menstrual functioning are associated with social rank and corresponding behavioral expression of dominance and subordination in female cynomolgus macaques. Extrapolating from this research, the present study examined socioemotional correlates of menstrual cycle irregularity in premenopausal women by focusing on the dimensions of dominance/submission and hostility/warmth.


METHODS
Participants were 153 premenopausal women (70 African-Americans, 83 European-Americans) who reported no current use of hormonal contraceptives. All women completed measures of socioemotional traits and reported whether the onset of their menstrual cycles was generally predictable within 4 days over the course of the past year.


RESULTS
Menstrual cycle irregularity was significantly and positively associated with the socioemotional trait of submission. This association held after adjusting for age and a number of potentially confounding health behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
Results are consistent with the notion that menstrual functioning is sensitive to socioemotional processes, particularly those pertaining to social hierarchies. Given recent findings linking menstrual cycle irregularity to cardiovascular disease, the results of the present study highlight new biobehavioral pathways to be explored with regard to women's cardiovascular disease risk.
Newton
Tamara L
TL
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. tlnewton@louisville.edu
Philhower
Correna L
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D002110:Caffeine; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D017697:Premenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012930:Social Dominance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American
D002110:Caffeine