Survey study, 1989
How do stress and lifestyle affect perimenstrual symptoms?
Chronic stress was significantly linked to more severe perimenstrual symptoms. Of lifestyle factors tested, only the amount of strenuous exercise showed a meaningful association with symptoms.
What they did
Researchers gave 211 women questionnaires about their chronic stress levels, perimenstrual symptoms, and lifestyle factors including exercise, alcohol use, nicotine, and caffeine.
What they found
Stress accounted for a significant amount of the variation in perimenstrual symptoms. Stress affected overall health even more than perimenstrual symptoms alone. Among lifestyle factors tested, only the duration of strenuous exercise showed a meaningful association with perimenstrual symptoms. Alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine did not show meaningful associations.
What it means for you
Stress management and exercise may help reduce perimenstrual symptoms. Stress affects overall health more broadly than just PMS symptoms. These results depend on women's self-report of symptoms, so actual effects could differ.
211
women studied
About the study
- Original title
- Perimenstrual symptoms: relationships with chronic stress and selected lifestyle variables
- Authors
- Gannon L, Luchetta T, Pardie L et al.
- Journal
- Behavioral medicine (Washington, D.C.)
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Survey study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/08964289.1989.9934578
Topics
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