---
title: How common is PMS among medical students and how is it linked to depression?
description: Using the study's definition, 96.4% had PMS. Those with PMS had higher depression and lower school involvement. The extremely high prevalence makes confidence
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-its-association-with-depressive-symptoms-2026/
---

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- How common is PMS among medical students and how is it linked to depression?

Survey study, 2026

# How common is PMS among medical students and how is it linked to depression?

Using the study's definition, 96.4% had PMS. Those with PMS had higher depression and lower school involvement. The extremely high prevalence makes confidence low.

 Early or limited evidence

338 menstruating female medical students at Zagazig University in Egypt

## What they did

Analytical cross-sectional study of 338 menstruating female medical students from all five academic years at Zagazig University in Egypt using questionnaires for PMS, depression, and involvement in school activities.

## What they found

Using their cutoff score, 96.4% (326 of 338 students) met PMS criteria. Average depression score was 21.9 plus or minus 10.9. Those with PMS had higher depression, social involvement, and academic involvement scores than those without PMS (all P less than 0.001). Age at menarche, bleeding duration, and depression remained linked to PMS status in analysis.

## What it means for you

This study found PMS in almost all students, much higher than others. Only 12 students without PMS makes comparison difficult. Depression and PMS appear connected but we cannot tell cause and effect.

96.4%

PMS prevalence

21.9

average depression score

338

participants

## About the study

Original title Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Its Association with Depressive Symptoms and Academic Involvement Among Female Medical Students Authors Marwa Abdelhady Hassan, Nada Samir Ismaiel Ahmed, Rasha Mohammed Bahaa Eldin Journal Zagazig University Medical Journal Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 338 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.21608/zumj.2026.519014.4748](https://doi.org/10.21608/zumj.2026.519014.4748)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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