Menstrual symptoms can have profound effects on the emotional health and professional lives of women. This study aims to explore the impact of menstrual symptoms on emotional engagement, self-regulation, negative affectivity, and cognitive functioning and to acknowledge the mediating role of emotional well-being on work productivity. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 working, menstruating women using validated psychological and occupational health scales. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were applied to test the hypothesized pathways. The findings revealed that emotional engagement, self-regulation and cognitive functioning were reduced by menstrual symptoms while negative affectivity increased. Emotional well-being significantly mediated the relationship between menstrual symptoms and work productivity (β = 0.79, p < 0.001). More than half of the participants (52.9%) reported their performance was interrupted by menstrual symptoms. These results emphasize the need for workplace interventions that address both the physical and emotional challenges of menstruation. Policies such as flexible leave, counselling services, and stronger peer support systems can enhance productivity and overall employee well-being.
Chattopadhyay et al. (Tue,) studied this question.