Survey study, 2023
Is there a relationship between PMS and eating disorder symptoms in university students?
The study found high PMS rates and low eating disorder rates in nutrition students. Irregular sleep was linked to more severe PMS, but the relationship between PMS and eating attitudes needs more research.
What they did
Cross-sectional study with 140 university students majoring in nutrition and dietetics who completed three questionnaires: a sociodemographic form, the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), and the 26-item Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26).
What they found
Mean PMSS score was 135±38.3. Mean EAT-26 score was 17.0±10.8 (indicating low eating disorder risk). Students with irregular sleep had more severe PMS (p<0.01) and shorter daily sleep duration (p<0.05).
What it means for you
Sleep patterns may affect PMS severity. The study found only a weak connection between PMS and eating disorders in this group of nutrition students. More research is needed to understand how these factors relate.
140
University students studied
135 (±38.3)
Mean PMS severity score
17.0 (±10.8)
Mean eating attitude score
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Syndrome Levels and Eating Attitudes Among University Students
- Authors
- Eda Dokumacıoğlu
- Journal
- Makara Journal of Health Research
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 140
- What was tested
- None. This study observed relationships between sleep, PMS, and eating attitudes.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.7454/msk.v27i2.1483
Original abstract
Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the combination of physical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms that characterize the week leading up to menstruation, and it can last for a few days. This study aimed to investigate irregular PMS, eating attitude behavior, and body mass index values among university students. Methods: The study sample consisted of 140 Artvin Coruh University students studying Nutrition and Dietetics. The study includes questions from three separate sections. The first section contains a sociodemographic characteristic form, the second section consists of the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), and the third section includes the 26-item Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). Results: In this study, the mean total score for PMSS was 135 ± 38.3, and the mean total score for EAT-26 was 17.0 ± 10.8. Individuals with irregular sleep patterns experienced more severe PMS (p < 0.01) and a shorter daily sleep duration (p < 0.05). Conclusions: High percentages of nutrition and dietetics students in our study experienced PMS, and the incidence of eating disorders was low. The relationship between PMS and EAT-26 must be understood for the health and well-being of university students.
Reproduced under CC-BY-SA.
Topics
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