---
title: Does stress affect premenstrual symptoms in female athletes, and can coping strategies help?
description: A review of research found that higher stress worsens PMS symptoms in female athletes, while healthy coping strategies like emotional regulation and social su
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-study-on-premenstrual-symptoms-perceived-stress-and-coping-style-among-female-2026/
---

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- Does stress affect premenstrual symptoms in female athletes, and can coping strategies help?

Survey study, 2026

# Does stress affect premenstrual symptoms in female athletes, and can coping strategies help?

A review of research found that higher stress worsens PMS symptoms in female athletes, while healthy coping strategies like emotional regulation and social support can reduce symptoms. This comes from multiple studies rather than one new study.

 Moderate study design

Female athletes (based on research reviewed, not a new study)

## What they did

Literature review summarizing published research from 2016 onwards. Researchers looked at how premenstrual symptoms, stress, and coping strategies interact in female athletes.

## What they found

Higher perceived stress is associated with increased severity of premenstrual symptoms. Adaptive coping strategies such as problem-focused coping, emotional regulation, and social support can reduce symptom severity and improve athletic performance.

## What it means for you

For female athletes with PMS, stress levels matter, and better coping skills may help reduce symptoms and improve performance. However, this is a summary of other studies rather than new evidence, so more specific research is still needed.

2016

earliest publication year

3

adaptive coping strategies

## About the study

Original title A Study On Premenstrual Symptoms, Perceived Stress And Coping Style Among Female Athletes Authors Vershetha T, Akilandeswari .M Journal International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research Year 2026 Study design Survey study What was tested None. Reviews how existing coping strategies relate to symptoms. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72431](https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72431) Original abstract

Premenstrual symptoms (PMS) are common physiological and psychological experiences occurring during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and affect a large proportion of women of reproductive age. Among female athletes, hormonal fluctuations combined with training stress, competition pressure, and lifestyle demands may intensify the experience of premenstrual symptoms. Perceived stress and coping styles play a significant role in determining how athletes interpret and manage these symptoms. The present conceptual review synthesizes research published after 2016 examining the relationship between premenstrual symptoms, perceived stress, and coping styles among female athletes. Evidence suggests that higher levels of perceived stress are associated with increased severity of premenstrual symptoms, while adaptive coping strategies such as problem-focused coping, emotional regulation, and social support can mitigate symptom severity and improve athletic performance. Understanding the interaction between physiological and psychological factors is essential for developing effective interventions that support the well-being and performance of female athletes.

Reproduced under CC-BY-SA.

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/)

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.

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