---
title: Do stressful life events affect PMS and menstrual symptoms? | Niyora
description: The study found stressful life events were linked to worse premenstrual mood and menstrual symptoms, but the connection weakened significantly when only physi
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/stressful-life-events-and-perimenstrual-symptoms-1982/
---

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- Do stressful life events affect PMS and menstrual symptoms?

Survey study, 1982

# Do stressful life events affect PMS and menstrual symptoms?

The study found stressful life events were linked to worse premenstrual mood and menstrual symptoms, but the connection weakened significantly when only physical health stress was considered. The cross-sectional design means we cannot prove stress causes these symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

179 women aged 18 to 35

## What they did

Cross-sectional study where 179 women aged 18 to 35 filled out questionnaires about recent stressful events and menstrual symptoms during a home interview.

## What they found

Stressful life event scores correlated with premenstrual negative mood, menstrual water retention, and performance impairment (trouble with activities). When health-related life events were controlled for separately, the correlation became much weaker, suggesting much of the effect may come from physical illness or injury rather than general stress.

## What it means for you

Stress may be linked to menstrual and premenstrual symptoms, but the effect may largely come from physical health problems. The study was cross-sectional (measuring everything at one point in time), so it cannot prove stress causes these symptoms, and women reported all information together during an interview.

179

women studied

18-35

age range in years

## About the study

Original title Stressful life events and perimenstrual symptoms Authors Woods NF, Dery GK, Most A Journal Journal of human stress Year 1982 Study design Survey study Participants 179 What was tested None (observational study) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/0097840x.1982.9936849](https://doi.org/10.1080/0097840x.1982.9936849)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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