Quality of Life among University Students with Premenstrual Syndrome

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the quality of life among university students with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde, in Recife, Brazil, between August 2016 and July 2017. Sociodemographic, gynecological, and lifestyle variables, and PMS occurrence, were investigated among 642 students. The short form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL Bref) questionnaire was used to evaluate four domains of the quality of life of the students: physical, mental, social relationships, and environmental. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' criteria were used to define PMS.

Results Of the 642 students, 49.9% had PMS, 23.3% had mild PMS and 26.6% had premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Most of the students were between 18 and 24 years old, had regular menstrual cycles, and practiced physical activity. Regarding the physical and mental domains of the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire, a statistically significant difference was observed between the students who did not have and those who had mild or PMDD (p < 0.001). A difference was also found between the students who did not have PMS and those who had mild PMS in the social relationships (p = 0.001) and environmental domains (p = 0.009).

Conclusion Mild PMS and PMDD are prevalent among university students on health-related courses, and the syndrome can affect the students' self-assessment of all the domains of quality of life.

Resumo

Objetivo Avaliar a qualidade de vida entre estudantes universitárias com síndrome pré-menstrual (SPM).

Métodos Foi realizado um estudo transversal na Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde, em Recife, no período de agosto de 2016 a julho de 2017. Foram investigadas variáveis sociodemográficas, ginecológicas, estilo de vida e a ocorrência de SPM entre 642 estudantes. Foi utilizada a forma abreviada do questionário de Qualidade de Vida da Organização Mundial da Saúde (WHOQOL Bref, na sigla em inglês) para avaliar quatro domínios da qualidade de vida: físico, mental, social e meio ambiente. Para a definição de SPM, foram considerados os critérios do Colégio Americano de Obstetras e Ginecologistas.

Resultados Das 642 estudantes, 49,9% apresentaram SPM, sendo 23,3% SPM na forma leve e 26,6%, transtorno disfórico pré-menstrual (TDPM). A maioria das estudantes tinha entre 18 e 24 anos de idade, possuia ciclos menstruais regulares e praticava atividade física. Em relação aos domínios físico e mental do WHOQOL-Bref, observou-se diferença estatisticamente significante entre as estudantes que não apresentavam SPM e as que apresentavam SPM, tanto a forma leve quanto o TDPM (p < 0,001). Também foi encontrada diferença no domínio “relações sociais” e “meio ambiente” entre aquelas que não tiveram TPM e as que tiveram TPM leve (p = 0,001 e p = 0,009, respectivamente).

Conclusão A SPM leve e o TDPM têm alta prevalencia entre estudantes universitárias da área de saúde e pode influenciar a autoavaliação das estudantes em todos os domínios da qualidade de vida.

Keywords

medical student - menstruation disturbances - premenstrual dysphoric disorder - premenstrual syndrome - quality of life

Palavras-chave

estudantes de medicina - distúrbios menstruais - síndrome pré-menstrual - transtorno disfórico pré-menstrual - qualidade de vida

Contributions

F. F. Victor, A. I. Souza, F. A. C. Silva, and A. L. C. G. Ferreira contributed to the conception and design, analysis, interpretation of the data, and writing of the article. F. F. Victor, C. B. T. Barreiros, and J. L. N. Barros contributed to the data collection, analysis, and writing of the article. A. I. Souza and A. L. C. G. Ferreira also contributed to the critical review of the intellectual content. All the authors have approved the final version to be published.

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