--- title: Do menstrual problems lower well-being through anxiety? | Niyora description: Premenstrual symptoms and menstrual pain lower well-being both directly and through worry about the future. Other menstrual problems like irregular bleeding o url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-association-between-various-menstrual-disorders-and-well-being-was-mediated-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do menstrual problems lower well-being through anxiety? Survey study, 2025 # Do menstrual problems lower well-being through anxiety? Premenstrual symptoms and menstrual pain lower well-being both directly and through worry about the future. Other menstrual problems like irregular bleeding only affect well-being through causing worry. Moderate study design 399 Taiwanese women aged 18-48 surveyed from June 2021 to May 2022. ## What they did Asked 399 Taiwanese women aged 18-48 about their menstrual cycles over the past six months, their worry about the future, and their overall well-being. They examined how different menstrual problems were connected to well-being and anxiety. ## What they found Premenstrual symptoms were directly linked to lower well-being and also lowered well-being through anxiety about the future. Menstrual pain, light bleeding between periods, and abnormal light bleeding reduced well-being only through causing worry. Missed periods, infrequent periods, irregular periods, and heavy bleeding did not show a clear connection to well-being. ## What it means for you If you have PMS symptoms or menstrual pain, worry about the future may be part of why you feel worse overall. Learning to manage anxiety could help improve your sense of well-being. The main limit is that this was a snapshot study, so we cannot tell if anxiety causes the lower well-being or if they just happen together. 399 Women studied 18-48 Age range (years) 6 months Period reported on for menstrual cycles ## About the study Original title The association between various menstrual disorders and well-being was mediated by anxiety: a cross-sectional study Authors Yeh CR, Vo HT, Lin CY et al. Journal BMC women's health Year 2025 Study design Survey study Participants 399 What was tested None. Observational study. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-04053-y](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-04053-y) Original abstract Menstrual disorders are common health concerns that can negatively impact psychological well-being. This study examined the mediating role of future anxiety in the relationship between various menstrual disorders and well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 Taiwanese women aged 18-48 from June 2021 to May 2022. Participants reported their menstrual cycles during the last six months. Individuals suffer from menstrual disorders if they have one of the following symptoms: infrequency, irregularity, abnormal flow volume, intermenstrual bleeding, pain/cramps, premenstrual symptoms, and one or more missed menstrual periods. Anxiety was evaluated using the Dark Future Scale. Well-being was measured using the World Health Organization's Well-being Index. Results: Mediation analysis revealed that premenstrual symptoms were directly associated with well-being (coefficient (B) = -4.39, p = 0.018) and indirectly via future anxiety (B = -2.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-3.77, -0.86]). Additionally, the indirect effect of menstrual pains/cramps on well-being through future anxiety was significant, as the 95% CI did not include zero (B = -2.14, 95% CI [-3.81 to -0.71]). Intermenstrual bleeding between periods and abnormal light bleeding have indirect effects on well-being only via future anxiety (B = -1.84, 95% CI [-3.47, -0.41] and B = -1.58, 95% CI [-3.24, -0.06], respectively). However, for missed, infrequent, or irregular menstrual periods, future anxiety was not a significant mediator. We did not observe a significant relationship between heavy and well-being. Conclusions: This study highlights that future anxiety partially mediates the link between premenstrual symptoms and well-being, suggesting both direct and indirect effects. Intermenstrual bleeding, abnormal light bleeding, and menstrual pains/cramps have no direct impact on well-being but influence well-being only through future anxiety. However, missed, infrequent, or heavy/prolonged bleeding or irregular menstrual periods showed no significant association with well-being. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[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/) 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 Are menstrual characteristics linked to depression and anxiety in teenage girls? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? 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