--- title: Do PMS and menopausal symptoms make loneliness worse when women experience COVID-related stress? description: Yes, PMS symptoms were associated with greater loneliness in pre-menopausal women with COVID-related stress, particularly through the emotional symptoms of PM url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mediating-effects-of-menstruation-menopause-on-the-association-between-the-covid-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do PMS and menopausal symptoms make loneliness worse when women experience COVID-related stress? Survey study, 2025 # Do PMS and menopausal symptoms make loneliness worse when women experience COVID-related stress? Yes, PMS symptoms were associated with greater loneliness in pre-menopausal women with COVID-related stress, particularly through the emotional symptoms of PMS. Early or limited evidence 530 female workers in Japan, including 303 pre-menopausal (mean age 37.0 years) and 217 post-menopausal women (mean age 57.1 years). ## What they did Cross-sectional web survey in Japan of 530 female workers (303 pre-menopausal, 217 post-menopausal). Researchers measured COVID-related PTSD symptoms and loneliness using standard scales. They assessed PMS symptoms in 263 pre-menopausal women (mean age 37.0 years, SD 8.9) and menopausal symptoms in 203 post-menopausal women (mean age 57.1 years, SD 9 0.6). ## What they found Pre-menopausal women reported higher loneliness than post-menopausal women, though this difference weakened after adjusting for age. PMS symptoms were positively associated with loneliness in pre-menopausal women. The psychological aspects of PMS symptoms were linked to increased loneliness related to COVID stress. In post-menopausal women, both PTSD symptoms and menopausal symptoms were associated with loneliness. ## What it means for you If you have PMS and experience pandemic-related stress, you may feel more isolated and lonely, especially if you experience emotional symptoms of PMS. This is a cross-sectional study so cannot prove PMS causes loneliness, and it only included female workers in Japan. 530 Female workers surveyed 263 Pre-menopausal women in PMS analysis 203 Post-menopausal women in analysis ## About the study Original title Mediating effects of menstruation/menopause on the association between the COVID-19 pandemic related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and loneliness in Japanese female workers: A cross-sectional study Authors Hirokawa K, Noda T, Tokunaga K Journal European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology Year 2025 Study design Survey study Participants 530 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.01.048](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.01.048) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[PTSD and trauma](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ptsd-trauma/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2015 Does childhood stress cause menstrual cycle problems and lower fertility? Systematic review, 2026 Does childhood trauma increase the risk for PMS, PMDD, and related mood disorders? Cohort study, 2026 Can one questionnaire help doctors tell the difference between PMS, PMDD, and other mood disorders? Survey study, 2024 How do hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle affect gut health and mood? Review, 2023 How does the stress response system affect depression during reproductive stages like PMDD? Survey study, 2005 How does trauma history affect PMDD symptoms and pregnancy? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗