The menstrual cycle, personality, and academic performance
R. N. Walsh, I. Budtz-Olsen, C. Leader and R. A. Cummins
Considerable research supports the widespread complaint of mood and
behavioral changes during the menstrual cycle. However, there is little
evidence of effects on intellectual performance, even though students
commonly complain of it. We studied the results obtained by 244 female
medical and paramedical students in all examinations taken during one year.
In view of suspected correlations between personality characteristics and
degree of dysmenorrhea, an Eysenck Personality Inventory, measuring
extroversion and neuroticism, was administered. The examination results of
high and low scorers on these personality scales and of those women with
prolonged (greater than or equal to six days) menses were reanalyzed. Not
one of these analyses revealed significant menstrual-cycle effects on
examination performance. Thus, while some persons may suffer, it does not
seem that menstrual cycle effects are sufficient to handicap significantly
the examination performance of the majority of female students.
