Survey study, 2024
Is physical activity linked to PMS symptoms?
About 68.5% of young women had PMS. There was a weak but statistically significant association between physical activity and PMS severity, though it was too weak to draw strong conclusions.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 235 women aged 18-35, measuring their PMS symptoms using a standardised scale and physical activity using a standardised questionnaire.
What they found
68.5% of participants met criteria for PMS. 43% had low levels of physical activity. A weak but statistically significant positive association (r=0.180, p=0.006) was found between severity of PMS symptoms and physical activity levels. The most commonly reported symptoms were mood swings, abdominal cramps, food cravings, irritability, skin changes, crying spells, and aggression.
What it means for you
Most young women in this sample had PMS. The link with physical activity was weak and this was a snapshot survey, not an experiment, so we cannot prove that activity prevents PMS. The women were selected by convenience sampling, which means they may not represent all women their age.
68.5%
had PMS
43%
had low physical activity
235
participants
About the study
- Original title
- Association of Physical Activity and Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms in Young Women of Ahmedabad
- Authors
- Aashvi Hemantbhai Sevak, Megha Sandeep Sheth
- Journal
- Journal of Integrated Health Sciences
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 235
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4103/jihs.jihs_23_24
Topics
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