The menstrual distress questionnaire (MEDI-Q): reliability and validity of the English version

Figures & data

Figure 1. Study flow-chart.

BSI = Brief Symptom Inventory; SPAF = Shortened Premenstrual Assessment Form

Table 1. General and psychometric characteristics of the sample.

	Mean ± SD/Frequency (%)(n = 288)
Age (years)	32.72 ± 8.46
Age at menarche (years)	12.86 ± 2.61
Menstrual cycle interval (days)	29.24 ± 7.02
Menstrual cycle duration (days)	5.42 ± 4.60
Hormonal contraceptive use	97 (33.7)
BSI PST	17.76 ± 14.08
BSI PSDI	1.56 ± 0.66
BSI GSI	0.61 ± 0.67
SPAF	24.16 ± 10.15
MEDI-Q Total Score	12.43 ± 11.27
MEDI-Q MS	6.03 ± 4.23
MEDI-Q MSD	1.79 ± 0.88
MEDI-Q MESI	0.61 ± 0.38

BSI = Brief Symptom Inventory; GSI = Global Severity Index; MEDI-Q = Menstrual Distress Questionnaire; MS = Menstrual Symptoms; MSD = Menstrual Symptoms Distress; MESI = Menstrual Specificity Index; PSDI = Positive Symptom Distress Index; PST = Positive Symptom Total; SD = Standard Deviation; SPAF = Shortened Premenstrual Assessment Form.

Table 2. Average distress score for each MEDI-Q item.

Item number	Item description	Mean ± SD
Item 1	Lower abdominal pain	1.53 ± 1.68
Item 2	Urinary pain	0.01 ± 0.13
Item 3	Pain at defecation	0.12 ± 0.57
Item 4	Muscle/osteoarticular pain	0.79 ± 1.34
Item 5	Breast tenderness/widespread swelling sensation	0.81 ± 1.16
Item 6	Nausea	0.23 ± 0.66
Item 7	Headache	0.61 ± 1.13
Item 8	Digestive problems	0.28 ± 0.71
Item 9	Diarrhea	0.39 ± 0.86
Item 10	Constipation	0.11 ± 0.45
Item 11	Discomfort due to vaginal bleeding	1.01 ± 1.46
Item 12	Feeling of being impure	0.25 ± 0.81
Item 13	Sadness	0.84 ± 1.27
Item 14	Emotional lability	0.99 ± 1.35
Item 15	Irritability/anger	0.97 ± 1.35
Item 16	Impulsiveness	0.19 ± 0.65
Item 17	Anxiety	0.35 ± 0.85
Item 18	Increased appetite	0.65 ± 1.19
Item 19	Decreased appetite	0.15 ± 0.64
Item 20	Insomnia	0.12 ± 0.59
Item 21	Hypersomnia	0.31 ± 0.68
Item 22	Fatigue	1.05 ± 1.37
Item 23	Decreased sexual drive	0.24 ± 0.77
Item 24	Concentration impairment	0.29 ± 0.80
Item 25	Pain during sexual intercourse	0.14 ± 0.61

MEDI-Q = Menstrual Distress Questionnaire; SD = Standard Deviation.

Table 3. Correlates of menstrual distress, as measured by the MEDI-Q.

	MEDI-Q Total Score	MEDI-Q MS	MEDI-Q MSD	MEDI-Q MESI
Age (years)	−0.17**	−0.13*	−0.20***	−0.07
BSI PST	0.19*	0.17	0.08	−0.14
BSI PSDI	0.19*	0.09	0.27**	0.05
BSI GSI	0.22*	0.15	0.16	−0.07
SPAF	0.56***	0.55***	0.35***	−0.32***

Age-adjusted standardized coefficients are reported; BSI = Brief Symptom Inventory; GSI = Global Severity Index; MEDI-Q = Menstrual Distress Questionnaire; MS = Menstrual Symptoms; MSD = Menstrual Symptoms Distress; MESI = Menstrual Specificity Index; PSDI = Positive Symptom Distress Index; PST = Positive Symptom Total; SD = Standard Deviation; SPAF = Shortened Premenstrual Assessment Form; * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, EC, upon reasonable request.