Survey study, 2009
What factors are linked to more severe premenstrual syndrome in adolescents?
Stress, earlier age of first period, and higher physical activity are each independently linked to worse PMS symptoms. This is moderate confidence from one high school study.
What they did
Cross-sectional survey of 381 adolescent girls from one high school in Busan, South Korea. Girls reported menstrual patterns, PMS symptom severity, stress levels, physical activity and other environmental and life factors. Researchers used multiple regression analysis.
What they found
Earlier menarche, higher stress scores, higher physical activity and drinking alcohol were related to worse PMS symptoms. On multiple regression analysis, stress (p<0.001), age of menarche (p=0.003) and physical activity (p=0.004) were independently linked to PMS symptom severity.
What it means for you
Girls who started their period earlier, experience more stress and are more physically active may be at higher risk for worse PMS. Stress appeared to be the strongest factor. The study is from one school so may not apply to all adolescents.
381
girls surveyed
p<0.001
stress association significance
3
independent risk factors
About the study
- Original title
- Factors Associated with Premenstrual Syndrome in High School Students
- Authors
- Jung‐Won Park, Jun-Su Kim, Ka-Young Lee et al.
- Journal
- Korean Journal of Family Medicine
- Year
- 2009
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 381
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2009.30.9.710
Topics
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