Premenstrual Symptoms in Young Japanese Women: Agency, Communion and Lifestyle Habits

This study aimed to examine associations between the traits of agency and communion and the severity of premenstrual symptoms
in young Japanese women, considering lifestyle habits. The participants were 512 Japanese female undergraduate students in
the Kansai area (mean age = 18.5 years, SD = .9). The participants were assigned a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple
regression analyses showed that higher levels in unmitigated agency were positively associated with total scores of premenstrual
symptoms, as well as subscales of concentration, behavioral change, water retention, negative affect and arousal. Higher levels
in communion were also positively associated with water retention. However, these associations were attenuated when lifestyle
habits were taken into account, except for communion, which remained positively associated with water retention. A psychological
approach for gender-related traits could be effective in treating premenstrual symptoms.