---
title: Does stress affect menstrual symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes, but only slightly. Stress accounted for about 6.5% of the difference in symptom levels between women.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effect-of-perceived-stress-on-menstrual-complaints-in-university-students-2024/
---

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- Does stress affect menstrual symptoms?

Survey study, 2024

# Does stress affect menstrual symptoms?

Yes, but only slightly. Stress accounted for about 6.5% of the difference in symptom levels between women.

 Early or limited evidence

351 university students in Turkey

## What they did

Researchers surveyed 351 university students in Turkey online. They asked about stress levels and menstrual symptoms including abdominal pain and overall menstrual complaints.

## What they found

Women whose income matched their expenses reported fewer menstrual symptoms. Having a chronic disease and smoking both increased menstrual symptoms. There was a weak connection between stress and menstrual symptoms - stress explained about 6.5% of the difference in symptom severity between women.

## What it means for you

While stress does appear to make menstrual symptoms slightly worse, it explains only a small part of why women experience different symptom levels. Other factors like income stability, chronic illness, and smoking matter more. The study surveyed only university students, so results may not apply to all age groups.

351

University students surveyed

6.5%

Of symptoms explained by stress

0.25

Correlation between stress and symptoms

## About the study

Original title The effect of perceived stress on menstrual complaints in university students Authors Yaşar Ö Journal Women & health Year 2024 Study design Survey study Participants 351 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2024.2337705](https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2024.2337705)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

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