The effect of premenstrual syndrome on work-related quality of life,work attendance and work performance of working women: A crosssectional study

Premenstrual syndrome is a cyclical disorder that is characterized by cognitive, somatic, behavioral, and emotional symptoms seen in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and ends with the onset of menstruation, usually seen in middle and young aged women. Premenstrual syndrome adversely affects women's quality of life because it affects the majority of women slightly, moderately, or severely. Due to the fact that working women spend the majority of their day at work, premenstrual syndrome is regarded to have a negative impact on business life. The purpose of study was to ascertain how premenstrual syndrome affected working women's work performance, work attendance, and quality of work life. Working women between the ages of 18 and 55 who applied to the Department of Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine were given a form to complete. To the women who were unable to complete the form in the hospital, after receiving their verbal assent to participate in the study, the online version of form created using Google Forms submitted and asked to fill the form out. The survey form consists of 46 questions and "Premenstrual Syndrome Scale". A total of 420 working women were reached for the study. 50 women were excluded from the sample for various reasons, and a survey form was applied to 370 women in total. The women who were compatible with PMS on the "Premenstrual Syndrome Scale" were assigned to the research group, whereas those who were not compatible with PMS were assigned to the control group. Study results were analyzed using the IBM SPSS.23 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) program. The significance level was accepted as p<0.05. The prevalence of PMS in women participating in the study was 65.1%. In the study, a total of 31 women consulted a doctor for PMS complaints. 10 women were diagnosed with PMS, 5 women used drug therapy, and 6 women received non-drug therapy. In the study, it was observed that PMS negatively affected the family relationship, quality of life and daily life. PMS was more common in individuals whose PMS symptoms started early and ended late. Being a university graduate, increasing alcohol use and dysmenorrhea all contributed to an increase in the frequency of PMS. When the association between PMS, working late, taking leave from work, and taking a rest report in the previous year owing to PMS symptoms was analyzed, no significant results were found. PMS-positive persons had a higher effect score on the quality of work life, on work attendance, work performance, concentration and focus at work, working speed at work, and sleep state at work. According to the study's findings, PMS decrease work performance, increase absenteeism, and lower the quality of work life. Managers should be notified about working women who are having severe menstruation symptoms, and working circumstances that will boost women's work quality and productivity should be given. If this issue is disregarded, productivity in both individuals and business life is expected to decline.