--- title: How does PMS affect women's daily activities and relationships? description: Women with PMS have difficulties with daily activities like self-care, work, and leisure, which affects their routines and relationships with others. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/occupational-participation-and-engagement-of-woman-experiencing-premenstrual-2023/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How does PMS affect women's daily activities and relationships? Interview study, 2023 # How does PMS affect women's daily activities and relationships? Women with PMS have difficulties with daily activities like self-care, work, and leisure, which affects their routines and relationships with others. Early or limited evidence 4 women with PMS ## What they did Researchers interviewed 4 women with PMS using semi-structured interviews. Each interview was written down word-for-word and analyzed to identify patterns and themes. ## What they found Three themes emerged: occupational disturbance (difficulty with normal activities), social impairment and occupational disengagement (difficulty staying engaged in activities), and the importance of self-awareness to manage symptoms and stay engaged. ## What it means for you PMS significantly impacts how women manage their daily life, work, and relationships. Understanding these impacts could help design better treatments. The main limitation is the very small number of women interviewed (4). 4 women interviewed 3 main themes found ## About the study Original title Occupational participation and engagement of woman experiencing premenstrual syndrome: A qualitative study Authors Park Y, Murphy A, Cezar da Cruz D Journal The British journal of occupational therapy Year 2023 Study design Interview study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/03080226231174792](https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226231174792) Original abstract Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome is commonly experienced by women of reproductive age and encompasses somatic, psychological and behavioural symptoms that recur during the luteal stage of menstrual cycle and resolves during or after menstruation. Although premenstrual syndrome has gained growing interest in recent years, the experience of women living with premenstrual syndrome has not yet been explored from an occupational perspective. Method: This qualitative study an used exploratory and descriptive design to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experience of women with premenstrual syndrome through an occupational lens. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with four women living with premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Findings: Three themes were identified: (1) occupational disturbance, (2) social impairment and occupational disengagement, and (3) the importance of self-awareness to engage in occupations. Women with premenstrual syndrome symptoms experienced difficulties that impacted their ability to engage in occupations including self-care, productivity and leisure, interfering with their occupational routine and interpersonal relationships. A level of awareness was considered important to manage premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Conclusion: The findings of this study are relevant to understanding the impact of premenstrual symptoms on daily living and for tailoring future interventions to address the occupational needs in women with premenstrual syndrome. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) 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 Study, 2026 What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2024 Which lifestyle choices affect PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2026 Why is understanding PMS awareness in teenage girls important? Survey study, 2026 Do childhood traumas affect how women cope with PMS? Interview study, 2026 What do women and their partners think about a PMS tracking app? Survey study, 2025 Does childhood trauma affect PMS symptoms and how women experience childbirth? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗