Biopsychosocial Correlates of Perceived Perimenstrual Weight Gain

Objective: Most research on perimenstrual weight gain and swelling involves a biomedical perspective, often failing to also consider women's symptoms as experienced within a social context. The objective of this paper is to explore biopsychosocial correlates of perceived weight gain and swelling during the perimenstrual period. Design, Setting, Participants, and Outcome Measure: Data were gathered by use of a questionnaire containing primarily forced-choice items. This secondary analysis involves 486 women between the ages 21 and 40 years working at least 32 hours per week as nurses in seven hospital sites. Perception of weight gain and swelling during the perimenstruum was ascertained by self-reported frequency of occurrence when considering the last six menstrual cycles. Results and Conclusions: Significant relationships were found between frequency of perimenstrual weight gain and swelling and self-reported amount of caffeine consumed, current weight, amount of strenuous exercise, depression and anxiety, number of days of menstrual flow, presence of clots with menses, number of children living in the home, perceived social support, and satisfaction with the work environment. There were no significant relationships between parity, self-reported alcohol consumed, smoking, satisfaction with the primary relationship, cycle regularity, or heaviness of menstrual flow. These findings provide an initial basis for further research and intervention strategies for perimenstrual symptoms from a broader, biopsychosocial perspective.