Premenstrual experiences: The simultaneous examination of the association of self-perceived stress, college-related stress, and sleep quality

Authors

Sara Julia Gonzalez, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

7-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Experimental Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Grant Benham

Second Advisor

Dr. Frederick Ernst

Third Advisor

Dr. Margaret Graham

Abstract

Research suggests that stress may contribute to the severity of premenstrual experiences, but the contribution of different types of stress has not been carefully examined. Using self-report measures, the current study examined the relation between self-perceived stress, college-related stress, sleep quality, and premenstrual experience in a predominantly Hispanic female college sample. Results indicated that self-perceived stress accounts for a statistically significant proportion of the variance in premenstrual experience ratings, with higher stress associated with greater premenstrual distress. Based on a hierarchical regression analysis, adding college-related stress to the predictive model allows for a significantly larger amount of the variance in premenstrual experiences to be accounted for and subsequently adding sleep quality as a predictor improves the model further. In the final model, all three predictor variables were statistically significant and accounted for 29% of the variance in premenstrual distress.

Comments

Copyright 2014 Sara Julia Gonzalez. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/premenstrual-experiences-simultaneous-examination/docview/1572101150/se-2

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American