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Survey study, 2018

How does sleep quality affect thinking and physical coordination in women with PMS?

As PMS severity increases, sleep quality worsens and reaction time becomes slower, suggesting worse thinking and coordination. Women with moderate PMS showed the most significant problems.

Early or limited evidence 60 female nursing students aged 18 to 20 years

What they did

60 female nursing students aged 18 to 20 completed questionnaires about sleep quality and PMS severity, and took visual and auditory reaction time tests. Researchers compared these measurements across three groups: women with no, mild, or moderate PMS.

What they found

20 women were in each group (moderate, mild, and no PMS). There was a statistically significant difference across groups (P=0.001). Sleep scores, insomnia severity, and reaction times were all worse in the moderate PMS group compared to mild or control groups. As PMS severity increased, reaction time increased (meaning slower responses).

What it means for you

Women with worse PMS experience worse sleep and slower thinking and physical coordination. Education about improving sleep quality might help women with PMS. This is a small study of nursing students only.

60

Female nursing students studied

20

Women in each PMS severity group

P=0.001

Statistical significance of differences between groups

About the study

Original title
Effect of sleep quality on cognition and psychomotor skill in women with premenstrual syndrome
Authors
Prabhavathi Krishnan, Saravanan A, N Maruthy
Journal
National Journal of Physiology Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Year
2018
Study design
Survey study
Participants
60
What was tested
None - observational study measuring sleep and reaction time
Open access
Yes

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