Major life events, daily stressors, and perimenstrual symptoms.

Major life events and daily stressors have been associated with women's experience of perimenstrual symptoms (PS). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of major life events and daily stressors to PS. Seventy-four women between 18 and 35 years of age kept daily recordings of stressors and symptoms for 2 months after which they completed the Schedule of Recent Events and the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). Major life events were associated with PS reports on the MDQ but not with symptoms reported in the daily health diary. Daily stressors were more influential in perimenstrual symptoms than the cumulation of major life events. Moreover, a generally stressful life context was more influential in the experience of perimenstrual symptoms than episodes of stressful experiences during a particular menstrual cycle phase.