Association of Sleep Patterns and Stress with premenstrual Syndrome among Medical Students

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) causes emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms in women during the luteal phase. Poor sleep and high stress can worsen PMS, especially among medical students. This study aims to examine the association between sleep patterns, stress, and PMS severity in medical students. Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (July 2023–June 2024) among 80 female medical students to assess the association of sleep and stress with PMS. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire on demographics, menstrual history, PMS, sleep, and stress. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. SPSS was used for analysis, with Chi-square tests evaluating associations (p < 0.05). Results: Among 80 female medical students, most were aged 21–23 years and in 3rd–4th year. PMS was reported by 66.3%, mostly mild. Most participants slept 6–8 hours with fair sleep quality, though many experienced delayed sleep onset and night awakenings. Moderate to high stress was common. PMS prevalence was significantly higher among those with poor sleep (p = 0.045) and increased progressively with higher stress levels (p = 0.018). Conclusion: PMS is prevalent among female medical students, and its occurrence is significantly linked to poor sleep and high stress levels. Encouraging stress control and adequate sleep might alleviate PMS symptoms and enhance students' well-being.