Survey study, 2026
Does childhood trauma cause worse PMS, and does dwelling on negative thoughts explain why?
Yes. Childhood trauma directly increases PMS severity, and rumination (dwelling on problems) partially explains this relationship.
What they did
384 high school girls in Iran completed questionnaires measuring childhood trauma, how much they ruminate or dwell on problems, and PMS symptoms.
What they found
Childhood trauma had a direct effect on PMS (β=0.52) and increased rumination (β=0.48). Rumination then increased PMS (β=0.42). Rumination explained part of the link between trauma and PMS (indirect effect β=0.20).
What it means for you
Both childhood trauma and rumination contribute to PMS in adolescent girls. Helping girls manage repetitive negative thinking might help reduce PMS symptoms. This study only included high school students from one Iranian city, so results may not apply to older women or other populations.
384
high school girls
0.52
direct effect of childhood trauma on PMS
0.42
effect of rumination on PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Structural equation modeling of the effect of childhood trauma on premenstrual syndrome: the mediating role of rumination in adolescent girls
- Authors
- Asadi H, Kivi HG, M A FS
- Journal
- Scientific reports
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 384
- What was tested
- None - observational study.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-54186-9
Topics
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