Exploring the Impact of Menstrual Cycle Length on Negative Affect and Anxiety

Menstrual cycle length is a biological factor that may influence psychological well-being, yet its relationship remains under-researched. The study “Emotion Recognition and Mood Along the Menstrual Cycle,” by Pletzer and Noachtar recruited 230 naturally-cycling women to examine how menstrual cycle phases impact the ability to recognize emotions from facial expressions. Participants were surveyed during their menses, peri-ovulatory, and mid-luteal phases, with assessments covering psychological factors and hormone levels. Using the open-source data collected from the previous study, the current study investigates the relationship between menstrual cycle, negative mood and anxiety. Results indicate that there is a significant correlation between these factors, as menstrual cycle length decreases, anxiety and negative mood increase. These results suggest that women who have longer follicular phases may have more positive overall moods. Given the historical lack of research on women’s health, this analysis contributes to the field by enhancing our understanding on how physiological processes influence psychological well-being. Additionally, this may provide women with a better understanding of how their physiology plays a role in their psychology.