---
title: Does being kind to yourself help reduce how negative attitudes about menstruation worsen PMS symptoms?
description: Being kind to yourself (self-compassion) appears to reduce the connection between negative menstrual attitudes and PMS symptoms. However, this finding comes f
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-mediating-role-of-self-compassion-in-the-relationship-between-negative-2026/
---

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- Does being kind to yourself help reduce how negative attitudes about menstruation worsen PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2026

# Does being kind to yourself help reduce how negative attitudes about menstruation worsen PMS symptoms?

Being kind to yourself (self-compassion) appears to reduce the connection between negative menstrual attitudes and PMS symptoms. However, this finding comes from one study where women volunteered online, so it is not yet proven.

 Early or limited evidence

261 women (average age 26.87 years, mostly university-educated) who signed up online

## What they did

Cross-sectional online survey where 261 women completed questionnaires about PMS, self-compassion, and their attitudes toward menstruation.

## What they found

74.7% of women had PMS and 29.5% had high negative menstrual attitudes. Common symptoms included fatigue (83.9%), swelling (81.6%), depressive moods (78.9%), irritability (79.3%), and pain (68.6%). Self-compassion and negative menstrual attitudes both predicted PMS severity. Negative attitudes affected PMS both directly and indirectly through self-compassion.

## What it means for you

If you have negative thoughts about menstruation, being more self-compassionate might help reduce your PMS symptoms. However, this was a small online study of self-selected women, not a randomized trial, so we cannot be certain the effect is real or large.

261

Women surveyed

74.7%

Had PMS

29.5%

Had high negative menstrual attitudes

## About the study

Original title The mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between negative menstrual attitudes and premenstrual syndrome Authors Akın Yamak Ö, Boyraz Yanık HG, Erbil N Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 261 What was tested Self-compassion training was not tested; the study measured whether existing self-compassion levels related to PMS Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-026-01761-8](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-026-01761-8)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Mindfulness and meditation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-mindfulness/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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.

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