Survey study, 2022
Are unhealthy diet and stress linked to premenstrual syndrome in teenage girls?
Yes. Teenage girls who consumed more fatty foods, sweet foods, sweet drinks, salty foods, and fast food, and those with higher stress levels, all had significantly higher rates of PMS.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 120 girls aged 13 to 15 years in Tangerang, Indonesia. Researchers used questionnaires to measure diet, stress, and PMS symptoms. They analyzed correlations using statistical tests.
What they found
Significant correlations with PMS were found for: sweet foods (p=0.039), sweet drinks (p=0.006), salty foods (p=0.026), fatty foods (p=0.000), fast food (p=0.001), and stress (p=0.000). Stress had the strongest correlation with PMS (r=0.564). Fatty foods also showed a strong correlation (r=0.366).
What it means for you
Diet and stress appear related to PMS risk in adolescent girls. However, correlation does not prove cause and effect. The study was only in one city in Indonesia, so results may not apply elsewhere. It is unclear which direction the relationship goes.
120
girls studied
0.564
correlation between stress and PMS
0.366
correlation between fatty foods and PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Unhealthy Diet and Stress are Correlated with Premenstrual Syndrome in Adolescent Girls in Tangerang
- Authors
- Dhea Zahra Huwaida, Yulia Lanti Retno Dewi, Kusnandar Kusnandar
- Journal
- Media Gizi Indonesia
- Year
- 2022
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 120
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.20473/mgi.v17i2.168-173
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2026
How do pre-menstrual symptoms affect the work and social life of young women?
Cohort study, 2025
How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?
Survey study, 2025
What psychological and personal factors predict which university students will develop premenstrual syndrome?
Survey study, 2021
What factors affect premenstrual syndrome in teenage girls?
Cohort study, 2019
How do exercise, diet and weight affect menstrual problems?
Survey study, 2022
What diet and stress factors are linked to PMS in teenage girls?