Psychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate whether psychological flexibility moderates the relationship between premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms and depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting. Methods For this study, a sample of 1,538 menstruating mothers...

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Main Authors: Junko Okajima, Isa Okajima
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BioPsychoSocial Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-025-00327-x
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author Junko Okajima
Isa Okajima
author_facet Junko Okajima
Isa Okajima
author_sort Junko Okajima
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate whether psychological flexibility moderates the relationship between premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms and depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting. Methods For this study, a sample of 1,538 menstruating mothers with children aged 0 to 3 years (227 with 0-year-olds, 428 with 1-year-olds, 409 with 2-year-olds, and 424 with 3-year-olds) was assessed utilizing the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Scale (PMDDS), Parental Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (PAAQ), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results The interaction effects between PMDDS and PAAQ scores were found to be significantly associated with anxiety and positive parenting, after controlling for other variables. Notably, higher PAAQ scores were associated with increased positive parenting, even in the presence of worsened PMDD symptoms. Furthermore, psychological flexibility, as measured by the PAAQ, had an independent effect on both depression and anxiety, though no moderating effect was observed. Conclusions Interventions aimed at enhancing psychological flexibility may be beneficial for mothers with premenstrual dysphoric disorder who are raising infants and toddlers.
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spelling doaj-art-95df873128f240b4886dcc5e6e4fe6bd2025-08-20T02:17:10ZengBMCBioPsychoSocial Medicine1751-07592025-04-011911910.1186/s13030-025-00327-xPsychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting: a cross-sectional studyJunko Okajima0Isa Okajima1Department of Psychology, Rikkyo UniversityDepartment of Psychological Counseling, Faculty of Humanities, Tokyo Kasei UniversityAbstract Background This study aimed to investigate whether psychological flexibility moderates the relationship between premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms and depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting. Methods For this study, a sample of 1,538 menstruating mothers with children aged 0 to 3 years (227 with 0-year-olds, 428 with 1-year-olds, 409 with 2-year-olds, and 424 with 3-year-olds) was assessed utilizing the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Scale (PMDDS), Parental Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (PAAQ), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results The interaction effects between PMDDS and PAAQ scores were found to be significantly associated with anxiety and positive parenting, after controlling for other variables. Notably, higher PAAQ scores were associated with increased positive parenting, even in the presence of worsened PMDD symptoms. Furthermore, psychological flexibility, as measured by the PAAQ, had an independent effect on both depression and anxiety, though no moderating effect was observed. Conclusions Interventions aimed at enhancing psychological flexibility may be beneficial for mothers with premenstrual dysphoric disorder who are raising infants and toddlers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-025-00327-xAcceptance and commitment therapyPsychological flexibilityNegative parentingPositive parentingPremenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)Depression
spellingShingle Junko Okajima
Isa Okajima
Psychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting: a cross-sectional study
BioPsychoSocial Medicine
Acceptance and commitment therapy
Psychological flexibility
Negative parenting
Positive parenting
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Depression
title Psychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting: a cross-sectional study
title_full Psychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Psychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Psychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting: a cross-sectional study
title_short Psychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression, anxiety, positive parenting, and negative parenting: a cross-sectional study
title_sort psychological flexibility as a moderator of the association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder depression anxiety positive parenting and negative parenting a cross sectional study
topic Acceptance and commitment therapy
Psychological flexibility
Negative parenting
Positive parenting
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Depression
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-025-00327-x
work_keys_str_mv AT junkookajima psychologicalflexibilityasamoderatoroftheassociationbetweenpremenstrualdysphoricdisorderdepressionanxietypositiveparentingandnegativeparentingacrosssectionalstudy
AT isaokajima psychologicalflexibilityasamoderatoroftheassociationbetweenpremenstrualdysphoricdisorderdepressionanxietypositiveparentingandnegativeparentingacrosssectionalstudy