Study, 2023
What coping strategies help reduce PMS severity?
Yes. Seeking positive activities to cope with PMS was linked to lower PMS severity. Doing enjoyable things during your cycle might help manage your symptoms.
What they did
Researchers asked 452 female university students about their PMS symptoms and what coping strategies they used, using questionnaires.
What they found
80.5% of students had PMS symptoms. Seeking positive affect-inducing activities like enjoyable things to do was linked to reducing the severity of PMS.
What it means for you
Trying enjoyable activities during PMS might help manage symptoms. However, this study only measured what people reported doing, not whether it actually helped over time. Different cultures and ethnic groups may have different coping strategies that work better or worse for them.
452
female students studied
80.5%
had PMS symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Investigation of coping behaviors and premenstrual syndrome among university students
- Authors
- Akın Ö, Erbil N
- Journal
- Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.)
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 452
- What was tested
- No intervention tested
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04419-1
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2025
Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS?
Cohort study, 2026
Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how much physical activity women do?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does yoga or foot reflexology work better for teenage PMS?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does acceptance and commitment therapy help women with PMS manage emotions and unhelpful thoughts?
Survey study, 2026
Is the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool valid in Serbian?
Survey study, 2025
Is the Chinese uncertainty anxiety scale reliable for measuring PMS-related anxiety?