Mood Emot.  2018 Mar;16(1):44-49. 10.0000/me.2018.16.1.44.

Association among Premenstrual Syndrome, Eating Habits, and Depression in Female College Students

• Na H
• Jung YE
• Kwon H
• Hong H
• Park MY

• KMID: 2446845
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/me.2018.16.1.44

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to examine the association among the identified conditions of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), eating habits, and depression and to identify risk factors of depression in female college students.
METHODS
There were a total of 285 students who were recruited from universities in the Jeju area. All participants accepted to the study completed self-report questionnaires that included demographic variables, a Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool, a Korean Eating Attitude Test-26 and a Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We noted that a total of 268 students who completed the questionnaires were analyzed, and the results were as follows.
RESULTS
As we have seen, the prevalence of depression, PMS, and associated eating problems were 52.4%, 67.2%, and 10.2%, respectively. It was discovered that female students who have prolonged or irregular menstrual period had experienced significantly high levels of depression. The students with PMS or eating attitude problems were more likely to have depression than those without PMS or an eating attitude problem. Also the study identified that a prolonged menstrual period, irregular menstrual period, PMS, and eating problems were significant risk factors of depression among female college students.
CONCLUSION
In summary, this study provides evidence of the significant relationships among premenstrual syndrome, eating attitude problems, and depression in female college students. Based on the results, professionals need to consider physiological and psychological symptoms of PMS and provide treatment for comorbid depression in female college students as individually recommended according to their associated issues in this regard.

Keyword

Premenstrual syndrome; Eating problem; Depression

MeSH Terms

Depression*
Eating*
Female*
Humans
Mass Screening
Premenstrual Syndrome*
Prevalence
Risk Factors