--- title: Are PMS and depression connected in nursing students? | Niyora description: 38.9% had moderate-to-severe PMS and 12.2% had PMDD. Depression was slightly more common in women with PMS (54.3% vs 47.3%), but this difference was not stati url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-depression-among-students-attending-nursing-training-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are PMS and depression connected in nursing students? Survey study, 2026 # Are PMS and depression connected in nursing students? 38.9% had moderate-to-severe PMS and 12.2% had PMDD. Depression was slightly more common in women with PMS (54.3% vs 47.3%), but this difference was not statistically significant. Early or limited evidence 90 female nursing students in Yangon, Myanmar ## What they did Cross-sectional study of 90 female nursing students in Yangon. Excluded pregnant women and those taking hormonal contraception. Used the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) to assess PMS and Beck Depression Inventory II to assess depression. ## What they found Moderate-to-severe PMS in 38.9%, PMDD in 12.2%. For depression: 50% reported none, 28.9% mild, 17.8% moderate, 3.3% severe. Among those with moderate-to-severe PMS, 54.3% reported depression compared with 47.3% in the non-PMS group (p=0.333, not significant). Overweight and obesity were significantly more common in students with PMS (p=0.047). ## What it means for you Many nursing students experience both PMS and depression, but the connection between them is not clear from this study. Weight may be related to PMS. The study is limited by its small sample size and inability to prove causation. 38.9% moderate-to-severe PMS 12.2% met criteria for PMDD 54.3% with PMS had depression ## About the study Original title Premenstrual Syndrome and Depression Among Students Attending Nursing Training Schools in Yangon Authors E. T. Z. Thwe Journal European Psychiatry Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 90 What was tested None - this was an observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.11923](https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.11923) Original abstract Introduction Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a common problem among women of reproductive age and is associated with impairment in physical, psychological, and social functioning. Depression is one of common disorders that may co-occur with PMS, and the two conditions can negatively influence the severity of each other. Recognising the co-occurrence of these two disorders is important for timely and effective management. Although some local research has addressed women’s mental health problems during perinatal and perimenopausal periods, there remains limited evidence on PMS and its psychiatric comorbidities in Myanmar. This gap suggests that PMS and its associated mental health challenges are often overlooked in local research. Objectives This study aimed to describe the prevalence of PMS and depression and to examine their association among nursing students in Yangon. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. The study population included female students from Nursing Training Schools in Yangon. Students who were pregnant or taking any type of hormonal contraception were excluded. PMS symptoms were assessed by using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), a validated, user-friendly instrument that identifies clinically significant PMS and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) according to DSM-IV criteria. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to determine associations. Results A total of 90 students participated in the study. Moderate to severe PMS was present in 38.9% of participants, and 12.2% met the criteria for PMDD. Regarding depression, 50% reported no depression, while 28.9% had mild, 17.8% moderate, and 3.3% severe depression. Among students with moderate to severe PMS, 54.3% reported depression compared with 47.3% in the non-PMS group. Although depression was more frequent in the PMS group, the difference was not statistically significant ( p =0.333). Analysis of background characteristics showed that BMI distribution was significantly associated with PMS ( p =0.047), with overweight and obesity more common among students with PMS. Conclusions A considerable proportion of nursing students experienced moderate to severe PMS, and half of the study population reported some degree of depression. Although PMS was not significantly associated with depression, the high prevalence of both conditions highlights the need for routine screening, mental health support, and lifestyle interventions in this population. The findings of this study underline the importance of addressing PMS among the women population as well as integrating screening practices for PMS symptoms in women presenting with depression (and vice versa). Disclosure of Interest None Declared 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/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[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 Survey study, 2006 Does the menstrual cycle affect how severe OCD symptoms are? Randomised trial, 2001 Do changing reproductive hormones disrupt the body's internal clock and cause mood disorders? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Systematic review, 2025 How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling? Review, 2023 What treatments help mental and physical health problems linked to the menstrual cycle? Cohort study, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗