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Is trait rumination associated with affective reactivity to the menstrual cycle? A prospective analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2024

Hafsah A. Tauseef Open the ORCID record for Hafsah A. Tauseef [Opens in a new window] ,
Katja M. Schmalenberger Open the ORCID record for Katja M. Schmalenberger [Opens in a new window] ,
Jordan C. Barone Open the ORCID record for Jordan C. Barone [Opens in a new window] ,
Jaclyn M. Ross Open the ORCID record for Jaclyn M. Ross [Opens in a new window] ,
Jessica R. Peters Open the ORCID record for Jessica R. Peters [Opens in a new window] ,
Susan S. Girdler Open the ORCID record for Susan S. Girdler [Opens in a new window]  and
Tory A. Eisenlohr-Moul Open the ORCID record for Tory A. Eisenlohr-Moul [Opens in a new window]
Hafsah A. Tauseef*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Katja M. Schmalenberger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Jordan C. Barone
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Jaclyn M. Ross
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Jessica R. Peters
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
Susan S. Girdler
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Tory A. Eisenlohr-Moul
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
*
Corresponding author: Hafsah A. Tauseef; Email: hafsah@uic.edu
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Abstract

Background

A minority of naturally cycling individuals experience clinically significant affective changes across the menstrual cycle. However, few studies have examined cognitive and behavioral constructs that may maintain or worsen these changes. Several small studies link rumination with premenstrual negative affect, with authors concluding that a tendency to ruminate amplifies and perpetuates hormone-sensitive affective symptoms. Replication in larger samples is needed to confirm the validity of rumination as a treatment target.

Method

190 cycling individuals (M = 30.82 years; 61.1% Caucasian) were recruited for moderate perceived stress, a risk factor for cyclical symptoms. They completed the Rumination Response Scale at baseline, then reported daily affective and physical symptoms across 1–6 cycles. Multilevel growth models tested trait rumination as a predictor of baseline levels, luteal increases, and follicular decreases in symptoms.

Results

The degree of affective cyclicity was normally distributed across a substantial range, supporting feasibility of hypothesis tests and validating the concept of dimensional hormone sensitivity. Contrary to prediction, higher brooding did not predict levels or cyclical changes of any symptom. In a subsample selected for luteal increases in negative affect, brooding predicted higher baseline negative affect but still did not predict affective cyclicity.

Conclusions

An individual's trait-like propensity to engage in rumination may not be a valid treatment target in premenstrual mood disorders. State-like changes in rumination should still be further explored, and well-powered prospective studies should explore other cognitive and behavioral factors to inform development of targeted psychological treatments for patients with cyclical affective symptoms.

Keywords

multilevel growth modelingpremenstrual dysphoric disorderpremenstrual exacerbationrumination
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , First View , pp. 1 - 11
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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