---
title: Can psychological factors predict which women with migraines will have PMS?
description: Yes. Women with migraines who struggle with emotions and have low confidence are more likely to have PMS. However, these factors explain only 11% of PMS cases
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/predicting-the-premenstrual-syndrome-based-on-alexithymia-and-self-efficacy-in-2022/
---

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- Can psychological factors predict which women with migraines will have PMS?

Survey study, 2022

# Can psychological factors predict which women with migraines will have PMS?

Yes. Women with migraines who struggle with emotions and have low confidence are more likely to have PMS. However, these factors explain only 11% of PMS cases.

 Early or limited evidence

160 women with migraines in Rasht, Iran

## What they did

Cross-sectional study in Iran. 160 women with migraines attending medical centres in Rasht in 2021 completed questionnaires about PMS symptoms, difficulty recognising emotions (alexithymia), and self-efficacy. Researchers analysed the associations.

## What they found

59.6% of the 160 women had PMS. Women with PMS had lower self-efficacy (correlation -0.28, statistically significant) and higher alexithymia scores (correlation 0.22, statistically significant). Self-efficacy predicted 11% of the variation in PMS.

## What it means for you

Women with migraines who struggle to recognise and name their emotions and who feel less capable of managing problems appear more likely to have PMS. However, self-efficacy explains only 11% of PMS, so other factors matter. This study was in one country with women who have migraines, so results may not apply to all women.

59.6%

Had PMS

11%

Of PMS explained by self-efficacy

160

Women studied

## About the study

Original title Predicting the Premenstrual Syndrome Based on Alexithymia and Self-Efficacy in Women with Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study Authors Abbas Sadeghi, Sholeh Gharibi, Sajjad Saadat Journal Journal of Iranian Medical Council Year 2022 Study design Survey study Participants 160 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v5i3.10950](https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v5i3.10950)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)

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