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Survey study, 2026

Which lifestyle habits are linked to PMS in teenage girls?

Poor sleep and high stress predict PMS, with stress being strongest (AOR=6.468); exercise was not linked. However, this was a small study in one school in Indonesia, so findings may not generalize.

Early or limited evidence 90 teenage girls at Al-Amin Islamic Boarding School in Banyumas Regency, Indonesia

What they did

90 teenage girls at an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia completed questionnaires about PMS symptoms, fast-food consumption, exercise, sleep quality, and stress levels. Researchers tested which factors were most strongly linked to PMS.

What they found

55.6% had severe PMS. Poor sleep quality (p=0.001), high stress (p<0.001), and fast-food consumption (p=0.040) were linked to PMS. Poor sleep quality (AOR=3.867; 95%CI:1.465–10.204) and high stress (AOR=6.468; 95%CI:1.883–22.223) were independent predictors of PMS, with stress being the strongest. Physical activity was not significantly related to PMS (p=0.508).

What it means for you

Poor sleep and high stress are the biggest modifiable factors linked to PMS in this group, suggesting interventions targeting these might help. However, this was one school in Indonesia with a small sample, and we can't prove that improving sleep or reducing stress will reduce PMS.

55.6%

had severe PMS

AOR=6.468

odds ratio for high stress predicting PMS

AOR=3.867

odds ratio for poor sleep predicting PMS

About the study

Original title
Lifestyle Factors Associated with Premenstrual Syndrome among Female Students Islamic Boarding School
Authors
Lu’lu Nafisah, Farah Dwi Radistya, Leni Maryati
Journal
JURNAL PROMOSI KESEHATAN INDONESIA
Year
2026
Study design
Survey study
Participants
90
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one of the most common reproductive health problems among female adolescents. Lifestyle-related factors, including dietary habits, physical activity, sleep quality, and psychological stress, are considered modifiable determinants of PMS. This study aims to analyze the association between these lifestyle-related factors and PMS among female adolescents in an Indonesian Islamic boarding school, which remains underexplored in previous research.Method: This quantitative cross-sectional study involved 90 female adolescents residing at Al-Amin Islamic Boarding School, Banyumas Regency, Indonesia. Respondents were selected using simple random sampling. PMS was assessed using the Shortened Premenstrual Assessment Form (SPAF), while lifestyle variables (fast-food consumption, physical activity, sleep quality, and perceived stress) were measured using standardized questionnaires. Data analyses employed descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multiple logistic regression, with statistical significance determined at p<0.05.Result: The findings showed a high prevalence of severe PMS at 55.6%. Bivariate analysis indicated significant associations between fast-food consumption (p=0.040), sleep quality (p=0.001), stress level (p<0.001), and PMS, whereas physical activity was not significantly related to PMS (p=0.508). Multiple logistic regression identified poor sleep quality (AOR=3.867; 95%CI:1.465–10.204) and high stress level (AOR=6.468; 95%CI:1.883–22.223) as independent predictors of PMS, with stress representing the strongest determinant. These findings suggest that interventions focusing on stress management and sleep improvement should be incorporated into adolescent reproductive health promotion programs, particularly in Islamic boarding school settings.

Reproduced under CC-BY-SA.

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