Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the relationships between premenstrual symptomatology, locus of control, anxiety, and depression in women with normal menstrual cycles. Sixty-nine female participants completed a survey, comprised of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ; Moos, 1968), Levenson's (1981) locus of control scales, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS; Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995), and a questionnaire constructed by the researchers based on the DSM-IV criteria for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Both overall and specific subtypes of premenstrual symptomatology were found to correlate with external locus of control, anxiety, and depression. In addition, locus of control was found to moderate the relationship between premenstrual symptomatology, anxiety and depression. Finally, women who were in the premenstrual phase when completing the questionnaire scored significantly lower on the internal scale than those in either the follicular or early luteal phases. It was concluded that an external locus of control may be associated with a susceptibility to depression or anxiety when certain premenstrual or postmenstrual changes are experienced.