The Effect of Premenstrual Syndrome on Quality of Life in Adolescent Girls

Objective: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a common psychosomatic disorder and about 30%-50% of women in the childbearing age suffer from mild to moderate form of this disorder and 3%-8% suffer from its sever form. The symptoms of this disorder are related to the specific biological characteristics of womenʹs reproductive age that can start from teen years. The symptomsʹ devastating effect on these crucial years of life can result in a sense of dissatisfaction and inadequacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and quality of life (QOL) in adolescent girls.
Method: This research is a descriptive-analytic study. The participants were 360 adolescent girls (180 in each group), studying in the second year of high school in south of Tehran. The participants were selected in a multistage randomly- clustered design according to their schools. Respondents completed the demographic questionnaire, premenstrual syndrome symptom daily record scale, and the medical study short form-36 (SF-36).
Results: Compared with healthy adolescents, those with PMS had a lower score of SF-36 in all the scales (P<0.001). Except for mental health and vitality, no significant difference was observed between other scales of quality of life according to SF-36 in various severities of PMS (P>0.05). However, a statistically meaningful difference was observed in mental health and vitality of SF-36 in severe form of PMS in compare to mild and moderate PMS P=0.002).
Conclusion: Premenstrual syndrome is associated with substantial burden on QOL in adolescents. In addition, increasing severity in PMS symptoms results in decreased quality of mental health and vitality.