--- title: Does having PMS or PMDD affect how well university students do academically? description: No. Academic performance did not differ between students with different levels of PMS or PMDD. However, the length of the menstrual cycle was significantly as url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mental-and-reproductive-health-correlates-of-academic-performance-among-debre-2017/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does having PMS or PMDD affect how well university students do academically? Randomised trial, 2017 # Does having PMS or PMDD affect how well university students do academically? No. Academic performance did not differ between students with different levels of PMS or PMDD. However, the length of the menstrual cycle was significantly associated with academic performance. Early or limited evidence 529 female students at Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia ## What they did A cross-sectional observational study at Debre Berhan University in Ethiopia from April to June 2015. 529 female students reported their PMS and menstrual symptoms and were assessed for academic performance. Researchers compared academic performance between women with different levels of PMS. ## What they found Among the 529 students, 49.3% reported mild PMS, 36.9% reported moderate to severe PMS, and 13.8% met criteria for PMDD. Academic performance did not significantly differ based on level of PMS (F = 0.08, p = 0.93). However, menstrual cycle length was significantly associated with academic performance (F = 5.15, p = 0.006). ## What it means for you PMS or PMDD symptoms alone may not affect how well students perform academically. Menstrual cycle length was associated with academic performance, though this does not prove that cycle length causes the difference. The study was limited to one university in Ethiopia, so findings may not apply everywhere. 529 students studied 13.8% with PMDD 36.9% with moderate to severe PMS ## About the study Original title Mental and Reproductive Health Correlates of Academic Performance among Debre Berhan University Female Students, Ethiopia: The Case of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Authors Alemu SM, Habtewold TD, Haile YG Journal BioMed research international Year 2017 Study design Randomised trial Participants 667 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1155/2017/9348159](https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9348159) Original abstract Background: Globally 3 to 8% of reproductive age women are suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Several mental and reproductive health-related factors cause low academic achievement during university education. However, limited data exist in Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to investigate mental and reproductive health correlates of academic performance. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted with 667 Debre Berhan University female students from April to June 2015. Academic performance was the outcome variable. Mental and reproductive health characteristics were explanatory variables. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test of association was applied to examine group difference in academic performance. Result: Among 529 students who participated, 49.3% reported mild premenstrual syndrome (PMS), 36.9% reported moderate/severe PMS, and 13.8% fulfilled PMDD diagnostic criteria. The ANOVA test of association revealed that there was no significant difference in academic performance between students with different level of PMS experience ( F -statistic = 0.08, p value = 0.93). Nevertheless, there was a significant difference in academic performance between students with different length of menses ( F -statistic = 5.15, p value = 0.006). Conclusion: There was no significant association between PMS experience and academic performance, but on the other hand, the length of menses significantly associated with academic performance. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) 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 Systematic review, 2025 How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2026 How common is PMDD among college women and what increases the risk? Review, 2026 How much do PMS and menstrual disorders affect women's work, school, and quality of life? Survey study, 2025 Do adverse childhood experiences increase PMS and menstrual symptoms in adulthood? Survey study, 2024 What menstrual and mental health factors are linked to high-risk premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗