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Study, 2021

How do PMS symptoms and attitudes toward menstruation affect quality of life?

Both PMS symptoms and negative attitudes toward menstruation were linked to lower quality of life. PMS symptoms had a stronger connection to quality of life than menstrual attitude did. Regular exercise was linked to better quality of life.

Moderate study design 137 nurses at a university hospital in South Korea

What they did

Researchers studied 137 nurses at a university hospital in South Korea. They measured premenstrual distress, attitudes toward menstruation, and health-related quality of life. They also asked about exercise habits, health status, and menstrual cycle patterns.

What they found

Quality of life varied by regular exercise, subjective health, and menstrual cycle patterns. Negative attitudes about menstruation were linked with more premenstrual distress. Both premenstrual distress and negative menstrual attitudes were linked with lower quality of life. The strongest factors affecting quality of life were premenstrual distress, then menstrual attitude, regular exercise, and subjective health. Together these four factors explained about 42 percent of differences in quality of life.

What it means for you

PMS has a real impact on how women feel about their health and quality of life. Regular exercise may protect quality of life. This studied nurses specifically, so findings may differ in other groups. The study shows connections between factors, not whether one causes another.

137

nurses studied

42%

of quality of life explained by four factors

About the study

Original title
Effects of Premenstrual Distress and Menstrual Attitude on Health related Quality of Life in Clinical Nurses
Authors
Mun Hee Jun, Sehoon Hong
Journal
Korean Association For Learner-Centered Curriculum And Instruction
Year
2021
Study design
Study

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