---
title: How common is PMDD among university students and what factors increase the risk?
description: PMDD affected 64.6% of university graduating students. Severe menstrual pain, irregular periods, and depression were the strongest linked factors.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-and-associated-factors-among-university-2024/
---

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- How common is PMDD among university students and what factors increase the risk?

Survey study, 2024

# How common is PMDD among university students and what factors increase the risk?

PMDD affected 64.6% of university graduating students. Severe menstrual pain, irregular periods, and depression were the strongest linked factors.

 Moderate study design

274 university graduating students in Ethiopia

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 274 university graduating students in Ethiopia surveyed in November 2022. Researchers assessed PMDD using DSM-5 criteria and examined factors including menstrual cycle regularity, menstrual flow volume, menstrual pain, and depression.

## What they found

64.6% of students had PMDD (95% CI: 59.5-70.4%). Severe menstrual pain was most strongly linked (AOR=5.69), followed by irregular cycles (AOR=2.24), heavy menstrual flow (AOR=2.53), moderate menstrual flow (AOR=2.29), and depression (AOR=2.46).

## What it means for you

Nearly two-thirds of university students had PMDD, with menstrual pain being the strongest linked factor. The study is from one country and is a snapshot in time, so it shows associations not proof of cause.

64.6%

PMDD prevalence in university students

5.69

Severe menstrual pain association with PMDD

2.24

Irregular menstrual cycles association with PMDD

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and associated factors among university graduating class female students in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study Authors Abdeta T, Firdisa D, Mulugeta A et al. Journal SAGE open medicine Year 2024 Study design Survey study Participants 274 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/20503121241241219](https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241241219)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[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.

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