---
title: Does a mindfulness stress reduction program reduce PMS symptoms?
description: Yes, in this trial, women who completed an 8-week mindfulness program had significantly lower PMS symptom scores than women in a control group.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effect-of-a-mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-program-on-premenstrual-2023/
---

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- Does a mindfulness stress reduction program reduce PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2023

# Does a mindfulness stress reduction program reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes, in this trial, women who completed an 8-week mindfulness program had significantly lower PMS symptom scores than women in a control group.

 Moderate study design

90 university students aged 20-30 with PMS (74 completed the study).

## What they did

90 university students aged 20 to 30 with PMS (scoring at least 45 on the PMS Scale) were randomly assigned to either an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, with weekly 2.5-hour sessions plus a 6-hour silent retreat in week 6, or to a control group. 74 women completed the study (37 in each group). PMS symptoms were measured before and after with the PMS Scale.

## What they found

After the program, the mindfulness group had a lower average PMS score than the control group (96.35 vs 123.02). All the individual symptom subscales also showed significant improvement in the mindfulness group compared with controls.

## What it means for you

An 8-week mindfulness program can meaningfully reduce PMS symptoms, but the study only measured results right after the program ended, so it is not known if the benefit lasts. The authors say larger, more diverse groups should be tested next.

74

Participants who completed the study

96.35

PMS score, mindfulness group

123.02

PMS score, control group

## About the study

Original title The Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on Premenstrual Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial Authors Şener Çetin N, Şolt Kırca A Journal Journal of midwifery & women's health Year 2023 Study design Randomised trial Participants 90 What was tested 8-week mindfulness program vs control group. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13530](https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13530)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Mindfulness and meditation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-mindfulness/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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## Related studies

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Randomised trial, 2026

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Survey study, 2026

Is PMS worse in medical students with higher stress?

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