---
title: Do exercise, nutrition, or stress affect how severe PMS symptoms are?
description: Stress matters. Women with higher perceived stress had more severe PMS symptoms. Exercise intensity and nutrition did not significantly predict PMS severity.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/relationship-between-nutrition-reap-exercise-vsaq-and-stress-on-premenstrual-2018/
---

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- Do exercise, nutrition, or stress affect how severe PMS symptoms are?

Survey study, 2018

# Do exercise, nutrition, or stress affect how severe PMS symptoms are?

Stress matters. Women with higher perceived stress had more severe PMS symptoms. Exercise intensity and nutrition did not significantly predict PMS severity.

 Moderate study design

75 healthy females aged 18-55 (mean age 22.7 years)

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 75 healthy women aged 18-55 (mean 22.7 years). Researchers measured exercise using a questionnaire, nutrition using a questionnaire, stress perception, and PMS symptoms. They analyzed what predicted symptom severity.

## What they found

No significant relationship between exercise intensity or nutritional intake and PMS severity. However, there was a significant relationship between perceived stress and PMS symptoms (r=0.324, n=75, p<0.005).

## What it means for you

Stress may play a role in PMS severity. This study did not show that exercise or diet affect PMS. Researchers noted that more rigorous studies are needed to test whether specific changes to exercise or nutrition would help. This is correlation, not causation.

75

women studied

22.7

mean age in years

r=0.324

stress-PMS correlation

## About the study

Original title Relationship between Nutrition (REAP), Exercise (VSAQ), and Stress on Premenstrual Syndrome Severity (PSST): Correlation, Cross-Section, Purposive Sample of 75 Females Ages 18-55 Authors Walton LM, Lindsey Machamer, Roan Asumbrado et al. Journal Journal of Physiotherapy & Physical Rehabilitation Year 2018 Study design Survey study Participants 75 What was tested None - observational study measuring existing behaviors Read the paper [doi.org/10.4172/2573-0312.1000158](https://doi.org/10.4172/2573-0312.1000158)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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