--- title: How common is PMS in Yemen and what lifestyle factors affect it? description: About 41.1% had moderate-to-severe PMS. Being overweight, eating fast food, chewing qat, and living in a rural area were linked to worse symptoms. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-and-lifestyle-correlates-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-its-severity-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common is PMS in Yemen and what lifestyle factors affect it? Survey study, 2026 # How common is PMS in Yemen and what lifestyle factors affect it? About 41.1% had moderate-to-severe PMS. Being overweight, eating fast food, chewing qat, and living in a rural area were linked to worse symptoms. Early or limited evidence 175 female university students aged 15-25 in Yemen ## What they did Cross-sectional study of 175 female university students aged 15-25 in Yemen between March and September 2024 using a validated Arabic questionnaire on demographics, lifestyle including qat use, and PMS symptoms. ## What they found Moderate-to-severe PMS was found in 41.1% (72 students). Most common symptoms were depressed mood (84.6%), anxiety (81.7%), and irritability (78.9%). Four modifiable factors linked to higher severity: overweight or obese status (β=4.85), rural residence (β=3.78), high fast-food consumption (β=5.10), and qat chewing (β=2.95). The model explained 40.1% of the variation in PMS severity. ## What it means for you Lifestyle choices like diet and weight may influence PMS severity. Study limitations: small, from a conflict zone, can only show association not cause and effect. Findings may not apply elsewhere. 41.1% moderate-to-severe PMS 84.6% depressed mood symptom 175 participants ## About the study Original title Prevalence and Lifestyle Correlates of Premenstrual Syndrome and Its Severity Among Female University Students in Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study of Dietary Habits and Qat Use Authors Alsharif A, Al-Qadasi R, Alrefaey R et al. Journal Cureus Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 72 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.7759/cureus.102968](https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.102968) Original abstract Background Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a significant public health challenge that adversely affects the quality of life and academic performance of young women. While lifestyle factors are implicated in its etiology, evidence from populations experiencing protracted conflict and resource limitations is critically lacking. This study investigates the exploratory prevalence, symptom patterns, and modifiable lifestyle correlates of PMS severity among female university students in Yemen. Materials and methods In this cross-sectional study, 175 female students aged 15 to 25 from a university in Ibb, Yemen, were recruited between March and September 2024 via convenience sampling. Participants completed a validated Arabic-language questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors (including the culturally specific use of Qat), and the severity of 22 PMS symptoms using the Arabic Premenstrual Syndrome Scale. Moderate-to-severe PMS was classified using adapted diagnostic criteria from the Arabic Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. The primary outcome was the total PMS severity score. Data were analyzed using bivariate tests and hierarchical multiple linear regression to identify associated factors while adjusting for demographic confounders (age and college level). The sample size provided sufficient power for regression analysis but was underpowered for high-precision prevalence estimation. Results The exploratory prevalence of moderate-to-severe PMS was 41.1% (n = 72). Psychological symptoms represented the most burdensome domain, with depressed mood (84.6%), anxiety (81.7%), and irritability (78.9%) being the most prevalent. In multivariable analysis, four modifiable factors were independently associated with higher PMS severity: overweight/obese status (β = 4.85, p = 0.008), rural residence (β = 3.78, p = 0.013), high fast-food consumption (β = 5.10, p = 0.004), and Qat chewing (β = 2.95, p = 0.015). Exploratory analysis revealed a significant interaction between overweight/obese status and fast-food intake (p = 0.018), indicating a synergistic association with symptom severity. The full model explained 40.1% of the variance in PMS severity. Conclusions This study reveals a high burden of PMS symptoms strongly linked to modifiable lifestyle and anthropometric factors among students in a conflict zone. The identification of Qat chewing and fast-food intake as key correlates underscores the importance of context-specific health behaviors. Although causal inference is limited by the cross-sectional design, these findings highlight a critical opportunity for nonpharmacological public health promotion, such as nutritional counseling and weight management programs, to potentially mitigate morbidity and improve the well-being of young women in humanitarian settings. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2026 Are eating behaviors linked to how severe a woman's PMS symptoms are? 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