Randomised trial, 2020
Can support delivered through a smartphone app, texting, and email reduce PMS symptoms in university students?
Yes, in this small study, students who got this social-media-based support had lower PMS scores and more physical activity than those who did not.
What they did
A South Korean study randomly assigned 64 female university students with PMS to receive social-media-based support (via app, text messages, and email) or no such support, over one menstrual cycle, between September and December 2016.
What they found
The support group had significantly lower total PMS scores (p = .003) across 14 premenstrual symptoms, and significantly higher physical activity (p = .010), compared with the control group.
What it means for you
A simple, accessible phone-based support tool may help with PMS symptoms and encourage more activity, but the study was small, short (one cycle), and only in South Korean students, so it's an early finding.
64
Participants
p=.003
PMS score difference
p=.010
Physical activity difference
About the study
- Original title
- Effects of a social-media-based support on premenstrual syndrome and physical activity among female university students in South Korea
- Authors
- Nam SJ, Cha C
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 64
- What was tested
- Social-media-based support (app, text messaging, email) over one menstrual cycle.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/0167482x.2018.1559811
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2026
Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how much physical activity women do?
Randomised trial, 2024
Does pilates exercise and text message support reduce PMS symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS?
Systematic review, 2025
How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling?
Survey study, 2026
Do young women with PMS search online for health information more and develop health anxiety from it?
Lab study, 2026
Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD?