Interview study, 2023
What PMS symptoms do university students experience, and how do they cope with them?
University students frequently reported PMS, with anxiety, fatigue, and breast tenderness being the most common symptoms. Most students had good coping skills and used strategies like rest, exercise, and herbal tea.
What they did
Researchers surveyed and interviewed 436 university students in Turkey (average age 20.65 years). They asked about PMS symptoms and how the students managed them using questionnaires and individual interviews.
What they found
41.1% of students experienced PMS frequently. The most common symptoms were anxiety (73.4%), fatigue (72.3%), breast tenderness (71.1%), and appetite changes (70.6%). About 73.9% had regular periods and 90.3% experienced period pain. Students used coping strategies including conflict avoidance, being alone, rest, sleep, massage, exercise, and herbal tea.
What it means for you
University-aged women with PMS can manage symptoms using simple strategies they develop themselves. This study describes what students reported but does not compare their experience to women without PMS or test whether these strategies actually work.
41.1%
Students who experienced PMS frequently
73.4%
Students reporting anxiety symptoms
90.3%
Students with period pain
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Syndrome Experiences and Coping Levels of University Students: A Mixed Method Study
- Authors
- Elif Keten Edis, Mustafa KETEN
- Journal
- Bezmialem Science
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Interview study
- Participants
- 436
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.14235/bas.galenos.2023.86547
Topics
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