Author(s): Alfiya Naik, Dr. Rajeshree Shinde and Dr. Madhuri Nigudkar

Abstract:
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a prevalent condition characterized by a range of emotional and physical symptoms that significantly impact women's daily lives. Symptoms such as irritability, depression, abdominal bloating, cramps, breast tenderness, fatigue, mood swings, headaches, and sleep disturbances typically occur in the week leading up to menstruation and can persist for a few days into the menstrual cycle. The severity of PMS varies among women due to hormonal, psychosocial, and physiological factors. While lifestyle factors such as diet diversity and sleep quality have been linked to the severity of PMS symptoms, there is limited data on their association among young adult women. This study aimed to assess the association between nutrient adequacy, diet diversity, sleep quality, and PMS among young women aged 18-25 years in Mumbai. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to March 2024, involving 150 participants selected through convenience sampling from colleges and workplaces. Data collection involved structured questionnaires to gather information on sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, PMS, diet diversity, daily food intake, and sleep quality. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25, employing the chi-square test, ANOVA, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient, with a significance level set at p< 0.005. The results showed no significant differences in weight, height, or BMI among participants with varying PMS severity (p> 0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences in energy and macronutrient intake among participants with different PMS severities (p > 0.05). Although 47.3% of participants had adequate diet diversity, no significant association was found between diet diversity and PMS severity (p> 0.05). Notably, 57.3% of participants reported poor sleep quality, which was significantly associated with higher PMS severity (p< 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between sleep quality and PMS severity (p< 0.05), indicating that poorer sleep quality was associated with higher PMS severity. In conclusion, the study found that poor sleep quality is significantly correlated with higher PMS severity, while diet diversity and anthropometric measurements do not exhibit a significant relationship with PMS symptoms. These findings suggest that improving sleep quality could potentially alleviate PMS-related discomfort, though further research is needed to understand the role of diet and anthropometric factors in PMS symptom severity.