Aerobic exercise, mood states and menstrual cycle symptoms

Abstract

This study examined the effects of regular, moderate exercise on mood states and menstrual cycle symptoms. A group of female regular exercisers (N = 97), and a second group of female non-exercisers (N = 159), completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) and the Differential Emotions Scale (DES-IV) premenstrually, menstrually and intermenstrually. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) revealed significant effects for exercise on negative mood states and physical symptoms, and significant effects on all measures across menstrual cycle phase. The regular exercisers obtained significantly lower scores on impaired concentration, negative affect, behaviour change and pain. No diff..