The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome among midwifery students and its relationship with lifestyle

This study was carried out with the aim of determining the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and its relationship with lifestyle among the midwifery students of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Aydın Adnan Menderes University. 288 undergraduate female students (who had no mental disorder/ used no anti-depressants and did not use combined oral contraceptives) in the Midwifery Department were recruited for the study. While data on the anthropometric, socio-demographic, menstrual and lifestyle characteristics of the participants were collected using data collection form, the premenstrual syndrome scale was utilised to determine the presence/absence of PMS in each participant. Student's t test, Mann Whitney U test, Pearson's Chi-square test, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and finally multiple logistic regression analysis via Backward LR procedure were employed in comparing the groups with and without PMS and determining the best predicting factors for PMS. The prevalence of PMS among the study participants was found to be 51.3%. According to the result of multiple logistic regression analysis; whereas fast-food consumption, taking vitamin /mineral supplements, poor income and expense balance, generally feeling stressed, irregular sleep, feeling pain during menstruation and the effect of menstrual discomforts on social life were found to have a statistically significant positive relationship with PMS; consumption of white meat was found to be negatively related with PMS. A significant proportion of the study's population suffer from PMS. Therefore, more attention from health care providers on the subject, the incorporation of PMS related topics into educational curricula, social support and lifestyle modifications to include healthier lifestyle choices are recommended.