---
title: What are the most common PMS symptoms and coping strategies in female students?
description: The most common symptoms were mood swings (77.7%), irritability, fatigue, and breast tenderness. Most students coped by resting, sleeping, or accepting it as
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/assessment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-coping-strategies-among-female-students-2022/
---

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- What are the most common PMS symptoms and coping strategies in female students?

Survey study, 2022

# What are the most common PMS symptoms and coping strategies in female students?

The most common symptoms were mood swings (77.7%), irritability, fatigue, and breast tenderness. Most students coped by resting, sleeping, or accepting it as natural, but 88.3% had poor health-seeking behavior.

 Early or limited evidence

310 female students from the School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

## What they did

Cross-sectional survey of 310 female students from 4 departments at one university in Nigeria. Participants completed questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

## What they found

Mood swings were reported by 240 (77.7%), irritability by 184 (59.5%), fatigue by 181 (59.5%), and breast tenderness by 171 (55.3%). For coping, 206 (66.9%) used resting, 200 (64.7%) used sleeping, and 148 (47.9%) coped by accepting it as natural. 273 (88.3%) had poor health-seeking behavior. 241 (78.0%) experienced low degree and 206 (66.7%) experienced moderate degree of syndrome.

## What it means for you

Most female students in this setting experience mild to moderate PMS. The main practical coping methods are rest and sleep. However, nearly 9 in 10 do not seek medical help. The study recommends active coping like exercise and breathing techniques. Main limit: this is one university in Nigeria, so results may not apply elsewhere.

240 (77.7%)

reported mood swings

206 (66.9%)

coped by resting

273 (88.3%)

had poor health-seeking behavior

## About the study

Original title Assessment of Premenstrual Syndrome and Coping Strategies among Female Students of the School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria Authors Christie Akpoigho Enuku, Nwankwo Clementina Ukamaka Journal Bayero Journal of Nursing and Health Care Year 2022 Study design Survey study What was tested None; this was an observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.4314/bjnhc.v4i1.2](https://doi.org/10.4314/bjnhc.v4i1.2)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[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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