Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2026
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Psychology
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Larry R. Martinez
Second Advisor
Dr. Logan Watts
Third Advisor
Dr. Nicholas Smith
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Emily Ready
Abstract
Menstruation remains an underrecognized factor in workplace well-being, despite affecting a large portion of the workforce. Existing research shows significant gaps in understanding employees’ lived experiences and organizational responses. This qualitative study aims to explore how menstruation influences work life, productivity, and perceptions of support within U.S. workplaces. Thirty menstruating employees were recruited using convenience and purposive sampling to participate in semi-structured virtual interviews, and data were analyzed thematically, guided by grounded theory principles. Findings revealed three central themes: (a) stigma and non-disclosure, shaped by internalized norms and workplace culture; (b) invisible effort and struggles that impact work, including productivity, work-health tradeoffs and coping strategies; and (c) limited organizational support, with most workplaces lacking menstrual-specific accommodations. The participants frequently described managing symptoms through concealment, continued work despite discomfort and different ways of personal coping strategies often resulting in work/health tradeoffs. These findings highlight the role of stigma and structural constraints in shaping how menstrual health is experienced at work. The study contributes to the occupational health and broader organizational science literatures by emphasizing menstruation as a cyclical and socially regulated workplace issue. Implications include the need for increased organizational awareness, flexible policies, and efforts to reduce stigma in order to better support the well-being of employees and promote more inclusive work environments.
Keywords
Menstrual health, Workplace well-being, Menstruation stigma, Organizational culture, Employee productivity, Occupational health, Workplace support, Gender equity, Grounded theory, Qualitative research
Disciplines
Industrial and Organizational Psychology | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Kuriakose, Cherie, "THE UNSPOKEN WORKWEEK: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF MENSTRUATION ON WORK EXPERIENCES" (2026). Psychology Theses. 4.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/psychology_theses2/4