The role of trait anger, rumination, and locus of control in the relationship between trauma, stress, and premenstrual disorders

The aim of this study was to look for mediators of the relationship between established risk factors (trauma and stress) and the symptoms of premenstrual disorders. The study was divided into two parts: with a retrospective (N = 339; aged 18-47, M = 24,23; SD = 5.23) and a prospective (N = 76; aged 18-44, M = 25.85; SD = 6.09) measure of premenstrual symptoms. The tested mediators were rumination, external locus of control, and trait anger. While all variables were significantly correlated, only trait anger mediated the relationship between stress and retrospectively measured premenstrual symptoms (indirect effect B = 0.29; 95%CI: 0.13-0.47; β = 0.07), and the association of trauma with both retrospectively recalled (indirect effect B = 0.19; 95%CI: 0.09-0.31; β = 0.06) and prospectively measured premenstrual symptoms (indirect effect B = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.07-0.75; β = 0.08). Locus of control and ruminations seem to be primarily related to one's subjective assessment of premenstrual symptoms severity, and trait anger seems to be a factor related to the actual symptoms' severity. These findings can contribute to our better understanding of premenstrual disorders and may be used in developing their more effective therapy.