Survey study, 2016
Which working women are more likely to have premenstrual symptoms?
Yes. Women with higher education, nursing jobs, and those living in nuclear families reported more symptoms. Physical symptoms like backache and muscle pain were most common, followed by mood changes.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 150 working women at a psychiatry hospital in India using the Premenstrual Symptom Checklist. They collected information about age, education, job type, family structure, and marital status to identify which groups had more symptoms.
What they found
Physical symptoms were most common: backache, muscle pain, and tiredness. Women with higher education, nursing jobs, and those living in nuclear families reported more symptoms. Age and marital status showed no clear difference in symptom prevalence.
What it means for you
The study suggests that certain job types and family structures may be associated with more premenstrual symptoms, though the reasons are unclear. Results are limited to one hospital in India, so findings may not apply to all working women.
150
Women surveyed
About the study
- Original title
- Patterns and Predictors of Premenstrual Symptoms among Females Working in a Psychiatry Hospital
- Authors
- Kumari S, Sachdeva A
- Journal
- Scientifica
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 150
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1155/2016/6943852
Original abstract
Introduction. Premenstrual syndrome presents with vague psychological, somatic, or biological symptoms. It may be seen more commonly in a specific profile of patients. We try to evaluate the patterns and predictors of premenstrual symptoms among females working in a tertiary care psychiatry hospital. Methodology. We recruited working females at a tertiary care psychiatry hospital in India, through purposive sampling, and assessed them cross-sectionally. Premenstrual Symptom Checklist was used to assess the frequency and distribution of premenstrual symptoms, which were correlated with various sociodemographic variables to evaluate the predictors for premenstrual symptoms. Results. 150 working females were included, belonging to different sociodemographic profile. Somatic symptoms (backache, joint and muscles pain, and fatiguability) were most commonly reported followed by psychological (irritability and losing temper easily) and biological symptoms (increased micturition). Premenstrual symptoms were seen more commonly in women with higher educational status and nursing profession and residing in nuclear families (p < 0.05), while age and marital status did not correlate significantly. Discussion. Premenstrual symptoms are common and distressing, especially for working females. Somatic symptoms such as backache and joint pains predominate over psychobiological symptoms. Women with higher educational status and professions like nursing belonging to nuclear families are more prone to these symptoms. Attention needs to be given to premenstrual symptoms in such population of working females.
Reproduced under CC-BY.