Survey study, 2026
How common is PMDD among college women and what increases the risk?
About 17.4% of college women screened positive for probable PMDD. Living with a boyfriend, having severe period pain, and having longer menstrual cycles were associated with higher odds.
What they did
368 female college students randomly selected from 12 colleges in Ethiopia completed the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool for Adolescents, a standardized screening test for PMDD based on diagnostic criteria.
What they found
Overall, 17.4% screened positive for probable PMDD. Students cohabiting with a boyfriend had 5.80 times higher odds. Severe dysmenorrhea (painful periods) had 5.88 times higher odds. A menstrual cycle of 28 days or longer had 2.52 times higher odds. Living with relatives and having moderate menstrual bleeding were associated with lower odds.
What it means for you
About 1 in 6 college women may have PMDD. Several factors like living situation, period pain, and cycle length are linked to it, though we do not know if they cause PMDD or are just associated with it. The study was done in one location in Ethiopia so the results may not apply to college women in other countries.
17.4%
Screened positive for probable PMDD
5.88
Odds multiplier with severe period pain
5.80
Odds multiplier cohabiting with boyfriend
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Severity and Associated Factors Among Female College Students in Nekemte Town: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study
- Authors
- Marine BT, Duftu KB
- Journal
- Health science reports
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 375
- What was tested
- None, screening survey only
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.73200
Topics
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