Non-randomised trial, 2026
Does group counseling reduce PMS symptoms in school students?
Yes. Group counseling significantly reduced PMS symptoms across all types (emotional, behavioral, thinking-related, physical) and functional problems. Quality of life improved substantially, and severe school interference dropped from 15.9% to 2.3%.
What they did
Quasi-experimental pre-post study of 44 girls aged 13-16 in Pakistan. Students received group counseling sessions from March to June 2025. PMS severity was measured using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool and quality of life using WHO Quality of Life-BREF before and after counseling.
What they found
Total PMS symptom score decreased from 35.02 to 29.20 (p<0.001). All symptom types improved significantly: emotional (p=0.001), behavioral (p<0.001), cognitive (p=0.001), somatic (p=0.001), and functional impairment (p<0.001). Severe school interference dropped from 15.9% to 2.3%. Quality of life increased from 80.43 to 91.70 (p<0.001).
What it means for you
School-based group counseling can effectively reduce PMS and improve girls' functioning and quality of life, important because PMS interferes with school. Main limitation: no control group, so we cannot be certain improvement was due to counseling rather than other factors. Small sample (44 girls) from one location in Pakistan.
44
girls studied
15.9% to 2.3%
severe school interference reduction
80.43 to 91.70
quality of life score increase
About the study
- Original title
- Mitigating Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome and Enhancing Quality of Life among School Students
- Authors
- Sidra Muzaffar Gondal, Muhammad Saifullah, Sarfraz Masih
- Journal
- Medical Forum Monthly
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 44
- What was tested
- Group counseling sessions
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.60110/medforum.370214
Topics
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