Survey study, 2014
Does how much girls exercise affect their PMS symptoms?
Yes, there was a clear difference in PMS symptoms between girls with different activity levels. Girls with health-enhancing physical activity had higher symptom scores than the overall average.
What they did
Cross-sectional survey of 323 high school girls. They completed questionnaires about menstrual symptoms and their level of physical activity. Researchers sorted girls into three activity groups: inactive, minimal activity, and health-enhancing physical activity.
What they found
There was a clear difference in PMS symptoms by activity level. The overall mean PMS score was 2.20 (low). The health-enhancing physical activity group had a mean score of 2.54. Negative feelings were the most common symptom (score 2.49). Most girls (53%) were minimally active. Many other factors also affected PMS: self-rated health, caffeine and alcohol use, diet, menstrual flow, daily impact, and menstrual pain.
What it means for you
Physical activity level is linked to PMS symptoms, though the exact relationship is unclear. Higher scores suggest worse symptoms in the active group, which is surprising. This might mean girls with worse PMS exercise more to cope. The main limitation is this was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove activity causes PMS changes.
323
High school girls studied
2.20
Overall mean PMS symptom score
2.54
Mean score for health-enhancing activity group
About the study
- Original title
- Difference in Premenstrual Syndrome by Physical Activity Level in High School Girls
- Authors
- KeonHee Nam, Young‐Hee Lee
- Journal
- Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
- Year
- 2014
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 323
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.5932/jkphn.2014.28.2.320
Topics
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