MENSTRUAL-CYCLE SYMPTOM REPORTING IN 3 BRITISH ETHNIC-GROUPS

Three different British ethnic groups were targeted to assess the infl uence of learned or culturally prescribed symptom reporting behaviour across different phases of the menstrual cycle. Forty-eight Afro-Carib bean, 73 Caucasian and 32 Oriental subjects completed a Positive/Negat ive Affectivity scale, a Retrospective assessment of premenstrual symp toms and daily symptom reports for 35 days. The results showed a signi ficantly elevated level of symptomatology premenstrually and menstrual ly in the Caucasian group compared to both others. Analysis of subscal es suggested elevated symptom reporting occurred for the psychological mood, body symptoms and pain, but not for the mental performance and social behaviour subscales. Intermenstrual reports of symptoms and Neg ative Affectivity did not differ between groups. A response bias or un derlying trait is therefore unlikely to account for the selective repo rting observed. It is suggested that the question of learning variable s playing an important role in the reporting of symptoms at different phases of the menstrual cycle may be reopened.