---
title: What lifestyle and personal factors are linked to PMS? | Niyora
description: Stress and alcohol use are strongly linked to PMS. Younger women and those with longer periods are more likely to have PMS. Women with PMS were more likely to
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/biological-social-and-behavioral-factors-associated-with-premenstrual-syndrome-1999/
---

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- What lifestyle and personal factors are linked to PMS?

Survey study, 1999

# What lifestyle and personal factors are linked to PMS?

Stress and alcohol use are strongly linked to PMS. Younger women and those with longer periods are more likely to have PMS. Women with PMS were more likely to exercise regularly.

 Moderate study design

874 women aged 18 to 44 in Virginia, USA

## What they did

Telephone survey of women aged 18 to 44 in Virginia who were asked about stress, alcohol use, exercise, and menstrual symptoms.

## What they found

8.3% of women had PMS. Women with PMS were 3.7 times more likely to report high stress and 2.5 times more likely to use alcohol. Women with PMS were 2.9 times more likely to exercise regularly. Younger women, Black women, and those with longer menstrual periods were more likely to have PMS.

## What it means for you

Stress and alcohol use may play a role in PMS, and learning to manage stress could help. The study cannot prove these factors cause PMS. Why women with PMS exercise more is unclear; they might be trying to manage symptoms or for other reasons.

8.3%

Percentage of women with PMS

3.7 times

Higher likelihood of stress in women with PMS

2.5 times

Higher likelihood of alcohol use in women with PMS

## About the study

Original title Biological, social, and behavioral factors associated with premenstrual syndrome Authors Deuster PA, Adera T, South-Paul J Journal Archives of family medicine Year 1999 Study design Survey study Participants 874 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1001/archfami.8.2.122](https://doi.org/10.1001/archfami.8.2.122)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/)

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