--- title: Is a negative attitude toward menstruation linked to worse PMS symptoms? description: Yes. Girls with a negative attitude toward menstruation were 31% more likely to report severe PMS than those with positive attitudes. Culture, family structur url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/attitude-towards-menstruation-prevalence-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-coping-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is a negative attitude toward menstruation linked to worse PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2025 # Is a negative attitude toward menstruation linked to worse PMS symptoms? Yes. Girls with a negative attitude toward menstruation were 31% more likely to report severe PMS than those with positive attitudes. Culture, family structure, religion, and maternal education also affect both attitudes and PMS severity. Moderate study design 1100 adolescent girls aged 13-19 in Kerala, India ## What they did Institution-based cross-sectional study of 1100 adolescent girls aged 13-19 in Kerala, India, selected through multistage cluster sampling. Menstrual attitudes were measured using the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire and PMS symptoms using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. Multivariable analyses identified factors associated with attitudes and severe PMS. ## What they found 51% reported a negative attitude toward menstruation and 36.8% reported severe PMS. Severe PMS was significantly associated with negative attitudes (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.31), living in a nuclear family (1.25), Muslim religion (1.58), and low maternal education (1.28). ## What it means for you A negative attitude toward menstruation is linked to worse PMS symptoms in adolescent girls. Family structure, religion, and maternal education also matter. These findings suggest that education and cultural attitudes may influence how girls feel about menstruation and their symptom severity. The study is limited to one region of India. 51% with negative attitude toward menstruation 36.8% with severe PMS 1.31 increased likelihood of severe PMS with negative attitude ## About the study Original title Attitude towards menstruation, prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and coping mechanisms among adolescent girls in Kerala, India: a cross-sectional study Authors Gopika AV, George S, Rose BM et al. Journal BMJ public health Year 2025 Study design Survey study Participants 1,100 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2024-002281](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2024-002281) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) 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 Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Study, 2026 What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2024 Can group counseling focused on positive psychology reduce PMS symptoms? Non-randomised trial, 2023 Does education about healthy lifestyle reduce PMS symptoms in high school girls? Non-randomised trial, 2021 Does teaching girls about PMS improve their knowledge? Survey study, 2020 Do rural and urban adolescent girls have different menstrual cycle patterns? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗