---
title: How common is premenstrual syndrome in female nursing students?
description: Only 6% of nursing students met criteria for premenstrual syndrome, with significant changes in just 3 symptom areas. Findings may vary by culture.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cultural-variations-of-premenstrual-experience-1989/
---

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- How common is premenstrual syndrome in female nursing students?

Survey study, 1989

# How common is premenstrual syndrome in female nursing students?

Only 6% of nursing students met criteria for premenstrual syndrome, with significant changes in just 3 symptom areas. Findings may vary by culture.

 Early or limited evidence

48 female nursing students of reproductive age

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 48 female nursing students of reproductive age. Each woman used a retrospective rating method to report cognitive, affective, and physical changes during the premenstrual phase compared to the rest of the cycle, rating 17 items on numerical and visual scales.

## What they found

Significant changes were seen in 3 of the 17 distressing items. Premenstrual Syndrome, as defined by DSM-IIIR criteria, was identified in 6% of the women. The study discusses varying patterns of premenstrual changes and their prevalence in sociocultural context.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual syndrome is relatively uncommon in this group. Findings may reflect cultural and social factors. Major limitations include retrospective recall rather than real-time tracking and small sample size.

48

Nursing students studied

6%

Meeting PMS criteria

3

Symptom items with significant changes

## About the study

Original title Cultural variations of premenstrual experience Authors Chandra PS, Chaturvedi SK Journal The International journal of social psychiatry Year 1989 Study design Survey study What was tested None; descriptive study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/002076408903500407](https://doi.org/10.1177/002076408903500407)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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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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Randomised trial, 2025

Does asking about positive experiences change how women report premenstrual symptoms?

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