Study, 2004
Do women with worse PMS have more stress and lower quality of life?
Yes. Women with high PMS had clearly more stress and lower quality of life compared to women with low PMS. Exercise did not make a clear difference overall in either group.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 114 women aged 18 to 33 about their PMS symptoms, stress levels, quality of life, and exercise habits. They divided women into high PMS and low PMS groups based on their reported symptoms and compared the groups on stress, quality of life, and exercise measures.
What they found
Women with high PMS had a clear difference in stress and quality of life compared to women with low PMS, reporting higher stress and poorer quality of life. Exercise frequency, volume, and intensity showed no clear difference between groups overall. Interestingly, among women with high PMS, those who exercised sometimes reported more stress than those who exercised often or never.
What it means for you
Worse PMS symptoms are linked to more stress and lower quality of life. Exercise did not help most women overall, though some women with high PMS may exercise sometimes as a response to their symptoms rather than experiencing relief from it. The study was limited by measuring things only once rather than tracking women throughout their menstrual cycle.
114
women studied
18-33
age range
About the study
- Original title
- Stress, quality of life and physical activity in women with varying degrees of premenstrual symptomatology
- Authors
- Lustyk MK, Widman L, Paschane A et al.
- Journal
- Women & health
- Year
- 2004
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 114
- What was tested
- None - this was an observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1300/j013v39n03_03
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2026
Can mindfulness, yoga or qigong help with PMS symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does yoga or Pilates help manage PMS symptoms?
Survey study, 2026
Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health?
Survey study, 2025
How common are PMS and painful periods among female medical students in Saudi Arabia, and what causes them?
Lab study, 2025
Does yogic pilates and breathing exercises help PMS symptoms?
Study, 2024
How do lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress affect menstrual health and PMS?