Factors associated with premenstrual syndrome and menstrual pain in women of childbearing age

Background This study investigated variables associated with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Menstrual Pain in women of childbearing age to provide foundational data for improving quality of life. Objectives This study aimed to examine variables associated with premenstrual syndrome and menstrual pain among women of childbearing age. Design A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used. Methods A survey of 245 women of childbearing age in the metropolitan area was conducted using online questionnaires. The data were analyzed with independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression to identify factors associated with premenstrual syndrome and menstrual pain. Results In the bivariate analyses, sleep quality, perceived daily stress, menstrual flow, analgesic use frequency, timing of severe menstrual pain, family history of perimenstrual discomfort, depression (CES-D), and perceived stress (PSS) were significantly associated with both PMS and menstrual pain (p < 0.05). In the multiple regression analyses, PMS was associated with VAS (B = 5.180, 95% CI: 3.33 to 7.03), CES-D (B = 1.395, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.82), family history of perimenstrual discomfort (B = 9.987, 95% CI: 1.12 to 18.86), and timing of severe menstrual pain on Day 1 (B = -15.153, 95% CI: -24.43 to -5.88) or Day 2 (B = -12.210, 95% CI: -23.96 to -0.46). Menstrual pain was associated with MDQ (B = 0.014, 95% CI: 0.008 to 0.02), family history of perimenstrual discomfort (B = 0.996, 95% CI: 0.51 to 1.48), age (B = -0.057, 95% CI: -0.10 to -0.02), perceived daily stress, analgesic use frequency, and coping method for menstrual pain (p < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, psychological and menstrual-related variables, including depression, perceived stress, family history of perimenstrual discomfort, PMS, and menstrual pain intensity, were associated with menstrual symptoms among women of childbearing age. These findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal relationships.