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Cohort study, 2025

How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?

About 1 in 4 Chinese girls (24.6%) has PMS. Higher stress, anger, alcohol use, menstrual cycles of 24 days or less, and period pain are all linked to increased PMS likelihood.

Strong study design 5099 Chinese adolescent girls with average age 15.19 years

What they did

Cross-sectional baseline study of 5099 Chinese adolescent girls with average age 15.19 years from a health cohort. Participants filled in a questionnaire about PMS symptoms, menstrual characteristics, stress, anger, alcohol use, and body measurements.

What they found

Overall PMS prevalence was 24.6%. The most common symptoms were irritability (54%) and fatigue (52.5%). High life stress increased odds by 2.26 times. High trait anger increased odds by 4.65 times. Alcohol consumption increased odds by 1.28 times. Menstrual cycles of 24 days or less increased odds by 1.45 times. Period pain (mild, moderate, or severe) increased odds by 1.50, 2.57, or 4.84 times respectively.

What it means for you

PMS is very common in Chinese teenage girls. Stress, anger, and alcohol are linked to worse symptoms, suggesting these might be treatment targets. However, this one-time data collection cannot prove these factors cause PMS, only that they are associated. Results are from China and may not apply elsewhere.

24.6%

Overall PMS prevalence

54%

Premenstrual irritability

4.65

Odds ratio for high trait anger

About the study

Original title
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Premenstrual Syndrome in Chinese Adolescent Girls
Authors
Liu X, Liu ZZ, Yang Y et al.
Journal
Child psychiatry and human development
Year
2025
Study design
Cohort study
Participants
5,099
What was tested
None

Topics