Disruptions of social relationships accentuate the association between emotional distress and menstrual pain in young women

This study examined the effects of social support on dysmenorrhea and wheth er social support moderates the relationship between negative emotions and painful symptoms. Women (N = 184) completed questionnaires on menstrual sym ptoms, depression, anxiety, and social networks. Depression and anxiety wer e strongly associated with menstrual pain. Women who no longer had access t o their prior support providers manifested more symptoms than did women wit h stable social relations. In addition, this disruption in their social net works moderated the relationship between distress and menstrual pain. Resul ts indicate that loss of social support is a significant contributor to men strual symptoms and point to the importance of considering specific aspects of social support in studying its effect on health.