--- title: Does physical activity reduce the effect of climate anxiety on PMS? description: Yes. Climate anxiety increases PMS symptoms, but physical activity has a protective effect that reduces this relationship. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-moderating-effect-of-physical-activity-in-the-relationship-between-eco-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does physical activity reduce the effect of climate anxiety on PMS? Survey study, 2026 # Does physical activity reduce the effect of climate anxiety on PMS? Yes. Climate anxiety increases PMS symptoms, but physical activity has a protective effect that reduces this relationship. Early or limited evidence 635 female health students ## What they did 635 female health students answered questionnaires about PMS symptoms, worry about climate change, and how much physical activity they do. ## What they found 87.7% had PMS. The median climate anxiety score was 13. Climate anxiety had a positive effect on PMS (β=0.606), meaning higher anxiety was linked to worse symptoms. Physical activity had a negative effect on PMS (β=-0.067), meaning more activity was linked to better symptoms. ## What it means for you Climate anxiety is linked to worse PMS, but exercise appears to help buffer against this effect. The study only included health students from one university, so may not apply to other groups of women. This is correlational data, so we cannot be certain that anxiety causes PMS. 87.7% had PMS 0.606 effect of climate anxiety on PMS -0.067 effect of physical activity on PMS ## About the study Original title The Moderating Effect of Physical Activity in the Relationship Between Eco-Anxiety and Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Balmumcu A, Öztürk H, Öztürk N et al. Journal Journal of evaluation in clinical practice Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 635 What was tested Physical activity evaluated as a moderating factor in the climate anxiety-PMS relationship. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/jep.70364](https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.70364) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) 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 Survey study, 2025 Does physical activity help reduce PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2025 How common is PMS in high school girls, and which non-drug methods help reduce anxiety and stress? Survey study, 2020 What attitudes do teenage girls have about premenstrual syndrome, and what affects them? Randomised trial, 2026 Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS? Survey study, 2026 What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Survey study, 2026 Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗