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Survey study, 2019

How common is PMS in university students, and what increases the risk?

Just over half of university students (52.1%) experienced PMS. Fast food consumption, high salt intake, low income, and anemia all significantly increased PMS risk. However, common coping methods did not efficiently help with all symptoms.

Early or limited evidence 376 university students in Sanliurfa, Turkey

What they did

Cross-sectional study of 376 university students in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Researchers assessed PMS frequency, the coping strategies students used, and identified factors associated with higher PMS risk using logistic regression analysis.

What they found

52.1% of students experienced PMS. Common coping strategies were activities to expend energy, eating sweets, and using pain relievers, but students had difficulty coping with water retention, balance problems, and autonomic reactions. Risk factors that increased PMS: age (1.179 per unit), weight (1.025), low income (1.884), fast food (2.069), high salt (1.884), and anemia (1.739).

What it means for you

Over half of students have PMS, and fast food, salt, low income, and anemia increase risk. Common coping methods don't address all symptoms. A major limit is the cross-sectional design cannot prove cause-and-effect, only that these factors are linked to PMS.

52.1%

experienced PMS

2.069

risk increase from fast food

1.884

risk increase from low income

About the study

Original title
PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME FREQUENCY, PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME COPING STRATEGIES AND FACTORS AFFECTING PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN TURKEY
Authors
Tuğba Özmermer, Fatma Koruk
Journal
LIFE International Journal of Health and Life-Sciences
Year
2019
Study design
Survey study
Participants
376
What was tested
None - observational study of factors associated with PMS
Open access
Yes

Topics