--- title: Do coping skills training or acupressure better reduce premenstrual stress? description: Both coping skills training and acupressure significantly reduced premenstrual stress compared to no treatment. The two treatments were equally effective, so url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/comparison-of-the-effect-of-teaching-coping-skills-and-acupressure-on-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do coping skills training or acupressure better reduce premenstrual stress? Randomised trial, 2025 # Do coping skills training or acupressure better reduce premenstrual stress? Both coping skills training and acupressure significantly reduced premenstrual stress compared to no treatment. The two treatments were equally effective, so either could be used based on preference. Moderate study design Undergraduate students with moderate or severe PMS in Iran ## What they did A three-group randomized trial with undergraduate students with moderate or severe PMS in Iran. One group received coping skills training (60 minutes weekly for 5 weeks), another received acupressure (twice daily for 60 seconds at the spleen 6 point for 3 months), and a control group received no treatment. Premenstrual stress was measured before and 3 months after. ## What they found Both coping skills and acupressure significantly reduced premenstrual stress compared to control. Acupressure reduced stress by 20.6 points (95% CI 23.1 to 17.1, p<0.001) and coping skills by 20.5 points (95% CI 23.4 to 16.7, p<0.001). No significant difference existed between the two active treatments. Both also improved coping strategies overall. ## What it means for you Both treatments effectively reduce premenstrual stress in university students. Since they worked equally well, women can choose based on what appeals to them. The study was in one Iranian university with only 3 months follow-up, so results may not generalize and longer-term effects are unknown. -20.6 premenstrual stress reduction with acupressure (points) -20.5 premenstrual stress reduction with coping skills (points) 3 months duration of follow-up ## About the study Original title Comparison of the effect of teaching coping skills and acupressure on premenstrual stress: a randomized controlled trial Authors Mirghafourvand M, Abdolalipour S, Mohamadi Bolbanabad A et al. Journal Discover mental health Year 2025 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Coping skills training for 5 weeks or acupressure for 3 months versus control Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00153-1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00153-1) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Acupuncture and acupressure](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-acupuncture/)[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. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2026 Is academic stress linked to PMS severity in university students? Survey study, 2026 How common is PMDD among female medical students and what triggers it? Survey study, 2026 What factors most strongly drive PMS severity in female engineering students? Randomised trial, 2025 Can coping skills training reduce premenstrual stress? Randomised trial, 2024 Can stress inoculation training reduce anxiety, depression, and stress in students with PMS? Randomised trial, 2024 Do positive psychology and physical activity help PMS symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗