Survey study, 2026
Is low backache during PMS linked to changes in daily behavior among female medical students?
Yes. Students with higher backache risk during PMS had more severe behavior disruptions. The two were strongly connected.
What they did
235 female medical students aged 18-24 in Islamabad, Pakistan completed surveys about backache and behavior changes during PMS. Backache risk was scored using the STarT Back Tool, and behavior changes were measured using a rating scale (BRS).
What they found
32.8% had high backache risk, 29.3% medium risk, and 37.9% low risk. 70.2% reported severe daily behavior changes. Backache risk scores and behavior disruption were strongly linked (ρ=0.64, p=0.0001). Mean behavior scores rose with backache risk (low risk 3.84 vs high risk 4.88).
What it means for you
Low backache during PMS may be a sign of more serious behavior disruptions during the cycle. The strong link suggests they happen together, though the study cannot say whether one causes the other. Results are from only one university, so may not apply elsewhere.
32.8%
Students with high backache risk during PMS
70.2%
Students reporting severe daily behavior disruptions
ρ=0.64
Correlation between backache risk and behavior disruption
About the study
- Original title
- Risk of backache during premenstrual syndrome and its association with behavior changes among female medical students in Islamabad, Pakistan
- Authors
- Naveed Arshad, Maria Tariq, Ayesha Javed et al.
- Journal
- Journal of Rehman Medical Institute
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 235
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.52442/jrmi.v12i3.985
Topics
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