Premenstrual Syndrome and Psychological Changes in Women During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 162 - 172, 14.12.2023

Havva Yeşildere Sağlam , Elif Gursoy , Atike Kaya

https://doi.org/10.46971/ausbid.1302060

Abstract

Aim: Premenstrual syndrome is an important problem affecting women's health. This study aimed to examine premenstrual syndrome and psychological changes in women during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate the relationship between premenstrual syndrome and psychological changes. Subjects and Method: The study, designed as a descriptive type, was conducted with 910 women in the 18-49 age group. "Premenstrual Syndrome Scale" and "Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21" were used as data collection tools in the study. Frequency, percentage, t test in independent groups, ANOVA test and correlation analysis were used in the analysis of the data. Results: Premenstrual syndrome was detected in 68.8% of women, depression in 63.8%, anxiety in 75.8%, and stress in 39.3%. In the correlation analysis conducted on the relationship between women's premenstrual syndrome scores and depression, anxiety and stress scores, a positive significant relationship was found (p<0.001). Conclusion: It was concluded that increasing depression, anxiety and stress levels in women increased premenstrual symptoms. It is thought that premenstrual syndrome symptoms are exacerbated by the increase in women's depression, anxiety and stress mood changes during the pandemic period.

Keywords

Anxiety, COVID-19, depression, premenstrual syndrome, stress

Covid-19 Pandemisi Sürecinde Kadınlarda Premenstrual Sendrom ve Psikolojik Değişimler

Abstract

Amaç: Premenstrual sendrom kadın sağlığını etkileyen önemli bir sorundur. Bu çalışmada kadınlarda COVID-19 pandemisinde premenstrual sendrom ve psikolojik değişimlerin incelenmesi ve premenstrual sendrom ile psikolojik değişimler arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Örneklem ve Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı tipte tasarlanan çalışma 18-49 yaş grubunda yer alan 910 kadın ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak, “Premenstrual Sendrom Ölçeği” ve “Depresyon Anksiyete Stres Ölçeği-21” kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde frekans, yüzde, bağımsız gruplarda t test, ANOVA testi, korelasyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Kadınların %68.8'inde premenstrual sendrom, %63.8'inde depresyon, %75.8'inde anksiyete ve %39.3'ünde stres saptanmıştır. Kadınların premenstrual sendrom puanları ile depresyon, anksiyete ve stres puanları arasındaki ilişkiye yönelik yapılan korelasyon analizinde pozitif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur (p<0.001). Sonuç: Kadınlarda artan depresyon, anksiyete ve stres düzeylerinin premenstrual semptomları arttırdığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Pandemi sürecinde kadınların depresyon, anksiyete ve stres duygu durumu değişikliklerinin artmasıyla premenstrual sendrom semptomlarının şiddetlendiği düşünülmektir.

Keywords

Anksiyete, COVID-19, depresyon, premenstrual sendrom, stres

References

• Acikgoz, A., Dayi, A., & Binbay, T. (2017). Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its relationship to depressive symptoms in first-year university students. Saudi Medical Journal, 38(11), 1125. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2017.11.20526
• Albsoul‐Younes, A., Alefishat, E., Farha, R. A., Tashman, L., Hijjih, E., & AlKhatib, R. (2018). Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorders among Jordanian women. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 54(3), 348-353. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12252
• Aolymat, I. (2021). A cross-sectional study of the impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence, menstruation, genital tract health, and contraception use among women in Jordan. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine Hygiene, 104(2), 519. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-1269
• Bakhsh, H., Alghamdi, A. M., Alyahya, M. A., Alghamdi, S. J., Alonazi, A., Algomaishy, R., De Vol, E., & Almalki, A. (2020). Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its impact on life among women in Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 20(91), 1307-1312. https://doi.org/10.24911/IJMDC.51-1578236787
• Banerjee, D. (2020). The COVID-19 outbreak: Crucial role the psychiatrists can play. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 102014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102014
• Bao, Y., Sun, Y., Meng, S., Shi, J., & Lu, L. (2020). 2019-nCoV epidemic: Address mental health care to empower society. Lancet, 395(10224), e37-e38. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30309-3
• Cao, W., Fang, Z., Hou, G., Han, M., Xu, X., Dong, J., & Zheng, J. (2020). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Res, 287, 112934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112934
• Choi, S. H., & Hamidovic, A. (2020). Association between smoking and premenstrual syndrome: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 1328. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.575526
• Chumpalova, P., Iakimova, R., Stoimenova-Popova, M., Aptalidis, D., Pandova, M., Stoyanova, M., & Fountoulakis, K. N. (2020). Prevalence and clinical picture of premenstrual syndrome in females from Bulgaria. Annals of General Psychiatry, 19(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/1186/s12991-019-0255-1
• Cousins, S. (2020). COVID-19 has ''devastating'' effect on women and girls. The Lancet, 396(10247), 301-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31679-2
• Demir, O., Sal, H., & Comba, C. (2021). Triangle of COVID, anxiety and menstrual cycle. Journal of Obstetrics Gynaecology, 41(8), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2021.1907562
• Direkvand-Moghadam, A., Sayehmiri, K., Delpisheh, A., & Kaikhavandi, S. (2014). Epidemiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)-A systematic review and meta-analysis study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 8(2), 106-109. https://doi.org/7860/JCDR/2014/8024.4021
• Erbil, N., & Yücesoy, H. (2023). Premenstrual syndrome prevalence in Turkey: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 28(5), 1347-1357. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2021.2013509
• Gencdogan, B. (2006). A new scale for premenstrual syndrome. Psychiatry in Turkey, 8(2), 81-87.
• Geta, T. G., Woldeamanuel, G. G., & Dassa, T. T. (2020). Prevalence and associated factors of premenstrual syndrome among women of the reproductive age group in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS One, 15(11), 1-12, e0241702. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241702
• Hashim, M. S., Obaideen, A. A., Jahrami, H. A., Radwan, H., Hamad, H. J., Owais, A. A., Alardah, L., Qiblawi, S., Al-Yateem, N., & Faris, M. A. E. (2019). Premenstrual syndrome is associated with dietary and lifestyle behaviors among university students: A cross-sectional study from Sharjah, UAE. Nutrients, 11(8), 1939. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081939
• Holmes, E. A., O'Connor, R. C., Perry, V. H., Tracey, I., Wessely, S., Arseneault, L., Ballard, C., Christensen , H., Silver, R. C., Everall, I., Ford, T., John, A., Kabir, T., King, K., Madan, I., Michie, S., Przybylski , A., Shafran, R., Sweeney, A., Worthman, C., Yardley, L., Cowan, K., Cope, C., Hotopf, M., & Bullmore, E. (2020). Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: A call for action for mental health science. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(6), 547-560. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30168-1
• Işgın, K., & Büyüktuncer, Z. (2017). Nutritional approach in premenstrual syndrome. Turkish Journal of Hygiene and Experimental Biology, 74(3), 249-260. https://doi.org/10.5505/TurkHijyen.2017.46667
• Khalaf, O. O., Khalil, M. A., & Abdelmaksoud, R. (2020). Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 27(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-020-00070-9
• Lee, S. H., Song, J. A., & Hur, M. H. (2016). Effect of emotional labor and stress on premenstrual syndrome among hospital nurses. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing, 22(1), 61-70. http://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2016.22.1.61
• Lima, C. K. T., de Medeiros Carvalho, P. M., Lima, I. d. A. A. S., de Oliveira Nunes, J. V. A., Saraiva, J. S., de Souza, R. I., Silva C.G.L., & Neto, M. L. R. (2020). The emotional impact of Coronavirus 2019-nCoV (new Coronavirus disease). Psychiatry Res, 287, 112915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112915
• Mautong, H., Gallardo-Rumbea, J. A., Alvarado-Villa, G. E., Fernández-Cadena, J. C., Andrade-Molina, D., Orellana-Román, C. E., & Cherrez-Ojeda, I. (2021). Assessment of depression, anxiety and stress levels in the Ecuadorian general population during social isolation due to the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03214-1
• Mirzaei, M., Ardekani, S. M. Y., Mirzaei, M., & Dehghani, A. (2019). Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among adult population: results of yazd health study. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 14(2), 137. https://doi.org/10.18502/IJPS.V14I2.993
• Ostacoli, L., Cosma, S., Bevilacqua, F., Berchialla, P., Bovetti, M., Carosso, A. R., Malandrone, F., Carletto. S., & Benedetto, C. (2020). Psychosocial factors associated with postpartum psychological distress during the Covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03399-5
• Pieh, C., Budimir, S., & Probst, T. (2020). The effect of age, gender, income, work, and physical activity on mental health during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown in Austria. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 136, 110186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110186
• Rad, M., Sabzevary, M. T., & Dehnavi, Z. M. (2018). Factors associated with premenstrual syndrome in female high school students. Journal of Education Health Promotion, 7(1), 64. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_126_17
• Robertson, M., Duffy, F., Newman, E., Bravo, C. P., Ates, H. H., & Sharpe, H. (2021). Exploring changes in body image, eating and exercise during the COVID-19 lockdown: A UK survey. Appetite, 159, 105062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.105062
• Rossi, R., Socci, V., Talevi, D., Mensi, S., Niolu, C., Pacitti, F., Di Marco, A., Rossi, A., Siracusano, A., & Di Lorenzo, G. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures impact on mental health among the general population in Italy. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 790. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00790
• Sarıçam, H. (2018). The psychometric properties of Turkish version of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) in health control and clinical samples. Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy and Research, 7(1), 19-30. https://doi.org/10.5455/JCBPR.27484
• Schwartz, D. H., Romans, S. E., Meiyappan, S., De Souza, M. J., & Einstein, G. (2012). The role of ovarian steroid hormones in mood. Hormones and Behavior, 62(4), 448-454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.08.001
• Sediri, S., Zgueb, Y., Ouanes, S., Ouali, U., Bourgou, S., Jomli, R., & Nacef, F. (2020). Women’s mental health: Acute impact of COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 23, 749-756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01082-4
• Sharp, G. C., Fraser, A., Sawyer, G., Kountourides, G., Easey, K. E., Ford, G., Olszewska, Z., Howe, L. D., Lawlor D. A., Alvergne, A., & Maybin, J. A. (2022). The COVID-19 pandemic and the menstrual cycle: research gaps and opportunities. International Journal of Epidemiology, 51(3), 691-700. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab239
• Takmaz, T., Gundogmus, I., Okten, S. B., & Gunduz, A. (2021). The impact of COVID‐19‐related mental health issues on menstrual cycle characteristics of female healthcare providers. Journal of Obstetrics Gynaecology Research, 47(9), 3241-3249. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.14900
• Vazquez-Vazquez, A., Dib, S., Rougeaux, E., Wells, J., & Fewtrell, M. (2020). The impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on the experiences and feeding practices of new mothers in the UK: Preliminary data from the COVID-19 New Mum Study. Appetite, 104985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.104985
• Yesildere Saglam, H., & Basar, F. (2019). The relationship between premenstrual syndrome and anger. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 35(2), 515. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.2.232
• Yue, C., Liu, C., Wang, J., Zhang, M., Wu, H., Li, C., & Yang, X. (2021). Association between social support and anxiety among pregnant women in the third trimester during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Qingdao, China: The mediating effect of risk perception. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(2), 120. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020941567
• Yuksel, B., & Ozgor, F. (2020). Effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on female sexual behavior. International Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics, 150(1), 98-102. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13193