Follow the Rhythm of Menstrual Cycle and Dance Between the Masculine and Feminine: Reconstruct Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in Intimate Relationships

• Main Authors: CHIANG, MENG-CHU, 江孟筑
• Other Authors: SUN, SUNG-HSIEN
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/np47c2

碩士 === 國立臺北教育大學 === 心理與諮商學系碩士班 === 107 === This study aimed to investigate the experience and feelings of couples confronting premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in intimate relationships; however, it aims to broaden horizons of PMDD. Through semi-structured in-depth interviews with three unmarried heterosexual couples, including joint interview and individual interview collecting data in paired research and dyadic research. Furthermore, nine texts were gathered and analyzed by the thematic analysis within qualitative research approach. The results indicate that when couples confronted PMDD, their experience shared the features were as follows: First, women’s experience of PMDD has been pathologized, including: (a) premenstrual changes being pathologized in relationship context, (b) particularly focusing on physiological and psychological changes in the premenstrual phase since lacking knowledge of menstrual cycle. Second, the couples face many difficulties and challenges during PMDD, including: (a) Women keeping self-silencing on emotions caused by PMDD while men being at a loss to help his lover, (b) PMDD reflects potential relationship issues. Third, benefits to individual and intimate relationship, including: (a) learning from unexplainable pathologized phenomenon, (b) being reborn after suffering from PMDD which is an inevitable lesson in life and intimate relationships. Therefore, the conclusions are as follows: First, women’s PMDD experience is restricted to perspectives of pathology, which its diversification of significance is ignored. Second, PMDD is not only a personal issue but also relationship issues. Third, explicit premenstrual suffering implies psychological needs from intimate relationships and gender role pressure. Fourth, well balanced intimate relationship quality helps women to cope with premenstrual changes and stress caused by PMDD. Fifth, PMDD becomes an inevitable lesson for women to cultivate herself and the intimate relationship with her partner. According to the study, women’s subjective experience of premenstrual changes were pathologized by biased perspectives, so-called PMDD make menstruation a scapegoat for women’s emotional changes and relationship problems, which cost couples opportunities for mutual understanding. It is believed that women’s experience of premenstrual changes should be normalized through introspecting the non-pathological perspectives of PMDD. At the end, this study provided several suggestions and reflections to women and their partner, couple therapists, as well as the researchers in related fields.