---
title: How do stress and lifestyle affect perimenstrual symptoms? | Niyora
description: Chronic stress was significantly linked to more severe perimenstrual symptoms. Of lifestyle factors tested, only the amount of strenuous exercise showed a mea
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/perimenstrual-symptoms-relationships-with-chronic-stress-and-selected-lifestyle-1989/
---

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- How do stress and lifestyle affect perimenstrual symptoms?

Survey study, 1989

# How do stress and lifestyle affect perimenstrual symptoms?

Chronic stress was significantly linked to more severe perimenstrual symptoms. Of lifestyle factors tested, only the amount of strenuous exercise showed a meaningful association with symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

211 women

## What they did

Researchers gave 211 women questionnaires about their chronic stress levels, perimenstrual symptoms, and lifestyle factors including exercise, alcohol use, nicotine, and caffeine.

## What they found

Stress accounted for a significant amount of the variation in perimenstrual symptoms. Stress affected overall health even more than perimenstrual symptoms alone. Among lifestyle factors tested, only the duration of strenuous exercise showed a meaningful association with perimenstrual symptoms. Alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine did not show meaningful associations.

## What it means for you

Stress management and exercise may help reduce perimenstrual symptoms. Stress affects overall health more broadly than just PMS symptoms. These results depend on women's self-report of symptoms, so actual effects could differ.

211

women studied

## About the study

Original title Perimenstrual symptoms: relationships with chronic stress and selected lifestyle variables Authors Gannon L, Luchetta T, Pardie L et al. Journal Behavioral medicine (Washington, D.C.) Year 1989 Study design Survey study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/08964289.1989.9934578](https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.1989.9934578)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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