Date

9-19-2023

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Mollie Boyd

Keywords

PMDD, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, PMDD Partners, Menstrual Cycle, Attachment Styles, Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, Four Horseman of the Apocalypse

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a debilitating disorder that adversely affects the lives of individuals and their intimate relationships. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of the partners of individuals who suffer from Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. The theories guiding this study were the interpersonal theory of suicide and the adult attachment theory. This study examined the overall relationship experience of partners of individuals suffering from PMDD and their cyclic attachment styles during the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. A selection of three PMDD partners and three PMDD sufferers, who have been in an intimate relationship for six months or longer, were interviewed to measure the fluctuation in the overall relationship experience and cyclic attachment styles. Overall, the attachment styles of the PMDD partners may be affected because of the cyclic anguish of the PMDD sufferers during the luteal and follicular phases of menstruation. The fluctuating attachment styles of the PMDD sufferer can impact the PMDD partner’s overall relationship experience.

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