--- title: Are poor sleep and high stress linked to worse PMS symptoms in students? description: Yes, students with poorer sleep and higher stress tended to report more severe PMS symptoms, but this survey cannot prove that stress or poor sleep actually c url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/relationships-between-sleep-quality-perceived-stress-and-premenstrual-syndrome-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are poor sleep and high stress linked to worse PMS symptoms in students? Survey study, 2026 # Are poor sleep and high stress linked to worse PMS symptoms in students? Yes, students with poorer sleep and higher stress tended to report more severe PMS symptoms, but this survey cannot prove that stress or poor sleep actually cause PMS. Early or limited evidence 708 female medical and nursing students in Palestine ## What they did A cross-sectional survey of 708 female medical and nursing students from three Palestinian universities. They filled in validated questionnaires measuring sleep quality (PSQI), perceived stress (PSS-10), and PMS symptoms (A-PMSS) at one point in time, and researchers looked at how the three were related. ## What they found Almost all participants (98%) reported some PMS symptoms, and 76% had moderate-to-severe symptoms. 62.1% had poor sleep quality and 94.5% had moderate-to-high stress. Sleep quality and PMS severity were positively correlated (rho = 0.295). In a combined statistical model, stress and sleep quality independently predicted PMS severity, together explaining 27.5% of the differences in PMS scores between students. ## What it means for you This suggests sleep and stress may be worth addressing as part of managing PMS, but the study only looked at one group at one point in time, so it cannot show which came first, and results come only from nursing and medical students in Palestine, who may not represent other women. 98% reported any PMS symptoms 76% had moderate-to-severe PMS 27.5% variance in PMS explained by model ## About the study Original title Relationships Between Sleep Quality, Perceived Stress, and Premenstrual Syndrome Among Medical and Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Palestine Authors Abu Khashan M, Aldarak S, Zahdeh M et al. Journal Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 708 What was tested None, this was an observational survey, not a treatment test Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14091168](https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14091168) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) significantly impacts daily functioning among women of reproductive age. Medical and nursing students face exceptional stressors that may exacerbate PMS, yet the interrelationships between sleep quality, perceived stress, and PMS remain understudied in Middle Eastern contexts. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between sleep quality, perceived stress, and self-reported PMS symptoms among Palestinian female medical and nursing students, to assess their prevalence and severity, and to examine variations across sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study recruited 708 female medical and nursing students from three Palestinian universities. Validated Arabic instruments assessed sleep quality (PSQI), perceived stress (PSS-10), and PMS symptoms (A-PMSS). Analyses included Spearman's correlations, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U Test, Kruskal-Wallis Test), and multivariable linear regression. Results: Nearly all participants (98%) reported some degree of self-reported PMS symptoms at any severity level, with 76% experiencing moderate-to-severe symptoms. Poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) affected 62.1%, while 94.5% reported moderate-to-high perceived stress. Significant positive correlations were identified between PSQI and PMS (rho = 0.295, p p < 0.001). Multivariable regression revealed that perceived stress and sleep quality were significant independent predictors of PMS severity after adjusting for covariates, with the overall model explaining 27.5% of variance in PMS scores. Conclusions: This study reveals a substantial burden of PMS, poor sleep quality, and stress among Palestinian female medical and nursing students. Perceived stress and sleep quality were independently associated with PMS severity. These findings highlight need for integrated wellness programs in healthcare education for Palestinian students. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[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, 2026 What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Survey study, 2026 Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health? Survey study, 2025 What affects sleep quality in nursing students? Survey study, 2025 Are premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms, stress, and sleep quality linked in female nursing students? Survey study, 2013 What lifestyle and diet factors are linked to PMS in young women? Survey study, 2026 Is PMDD linked to sleep problems, diet, and academic stress in female medical students? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗