Frequency and severity of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and their correlation with depression and anxiety symptoms among university students in Istanbul

Objective: Premenstrual syndrome is a common problem in young girls. The objective of this study was to explore the frequency and severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms and their correlation with depression and anxiety symptoms in university students.

Methods: Using a self-report questionnaire, we surveyed all eligible female students (n=252) enrolled in the psychology programs at a university in Istanbul. Subjects were asked about the frequency of symptoms during the previous six months. The instruments included personal information and Premenstrual Assessment form. Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory were used to investigate the depression and anxiety symptoms. Student’s t-test and repeated measurement analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis.

Results: Mean age of participants in this study was 20.3±1.9 years. Mild, moderate and severe premenstrual symptoms were experienced by 65.1%, 25% and 9.9% of the subjects, respectively. Premenstrual symptom severity was significantly positively correlated with Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory scores.

Conclusions: Premenstrual syndrome is associated with physical, psychological, or behavioral changes and interferes with interpersonal relationships, educational performance and emotional well-being. The findings showed that majority of 18-30 aged women have premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Strategies such as nutritional consulting or exercise programs should be adopted for management of premenstrual syndrome in university students.