--- title: What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? description: Stress and sleep problems were independently associated with PMS. Diet and weight were not independently associated with PMS after accounting for other factor url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/dietary-lifestyle-and-psychological-factors-associated-with-premenstrual-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Survey study, 2026 # What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Stress and sleep problems were independently associated with PMS. Diet and weight were not independently associated with PMS after accounting for other factors. This is a cross-sectional study, so these are associations, not proof of cause and effect. Moderate study design 502 female university students aged 18-29 in Saudi Arabia ## What they did Cross-sectional study of 502 female university students aged 18-29 at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia. They used questionnaires to measure PMS symptoms, diet, and psychological distress including stress, anxiety, and depression. ## What they found Women with PMS had significantly higher stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems (all p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, stress (adjusted odds ratio 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10; p=0.005) and sleep problems (adjusted odds ratio 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.05; p<0.001) remained significantly associated with PMS. Anxiety, depression, body mass index, and healthy diet were not independently associated with PMS after adjustment. ## What it means for you Stress and poor sleep are the clearest factors linked to PMS in this sample, while diet and weight do not seem to independently matter. This suggests mental health and sleep should be targeted when managing PMS. However, this is cross-sectional, so we cannot know if stress causes PMS or PMS causes stress. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the direction of relationships. 502 female students studied 1.05 stress adjusted odds ratio 1.03 sleep adjusted odds ratio ## About the study Original title Dietary, Lifestyle, and Psychological Factors Associated with Premenstrual Syndrome Among Female University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study Authors Huwaikem M Journal International journal of women's health Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 502 What was tested None. This was an observational study. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.2147/ijwh.s639146](https://doi.org/10.2147/ijwh.s639146) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Case-control study, 2020 Is diet quality lower in teenagers with PMS? Survey study, 2019 What lifestyle and sleep habits are linked to PMS in teenage girls? Survey study, 2026 How common is PMDD in Russian medical students, and what are its symptoms? Survey study, 2021 What factors are related to premenstrual syndrome in high school students? Survey study, 2017 Do women with moderate PMS have more depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems than those with mild PMS? Survey study, 2026 Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗