--- title: Is health anxiety connected to PMS and PMDD? | Niyora description: Yes, women with PMS and PMDD reported significantly more health anxiety and anxiety sensitivity than those with mild or no PMS. These links remained even afte url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/perceptions-of-health-and-somatic-sensations-in-women-reporting-premenstrual-2013/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is health anxiety connected to PMS and PMDD? Survey study, 2013 # Is health anxiety connected to PMS and PMDD? Yes, women with PMS and PMDD reported significantly more health anxiety and anxiety sensitivity than those with mild or no PMS. These links remained even after accounting for general anxiety, and both groups reported worse quality of life overall. Early or limited evidence 731 college women with mild/no PMS, moderate/severe PMS, or PMDD ## What they did Cross-sectional study of 731 college women divided into three groups by symptom severity (PMDD, moderate/severe PMS, mild/no PMS). Measured health anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, general anxiety, and health-related quality of life. ## What they found Women with PMDD and moderate/severe PMS reported higher levels of health anxiety and anxiety sensitivity compared to those with mild or no PMS. These associations were not explained by trait anxiety alone. Both groups also reported significantly lower health-related quality of life. ## What it means for you Worry about health and heightened awareness of bodily sensations may be part of what causes or maintains PMS and PMDD. However, this is a snapshot study from a college sample, so we can't prove these worries cause the disorder rather than result from it. 731 college women studied ## About the study Original title Perceptions of health and somatic sensations in women reporting premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Craner J, Sigmon S, Martinson A et al. Journal The Journal of nervous and mental disease Year 2013 Study design Survey study Participants 731 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/nmd.0b013e3182a213f1](https://doi.org/10.1097/nmd.0b013e3182a213f1) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[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 are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2025 How aware are medical students of PMDD, and how common is it among female medical students? Survey study, 2023 How common are PMS and PMDD among college girls, and what are their symptoms? Survey study, 2023 Is PMDD diagnosis associated with more severe depression and anxiety and lower well-being? Interview study, 2019 Which PMDD symptoms are most common in college students? Survey study, 2012 Is severe PMS linked to psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗