Influence of life-style on the premenstrual syndrome. Analysis of a questionnaire survey.

The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is influenced by parameters of life-style. An analysis was done of 384 questionnaires completed by women with a wide variety of life-styles. Four measures of PMS symptomatology were developed to assess the areas of edema, autonomic responses, affect and coping mechanisms. Significance associations were found between PMS symptomatology and regularity of periods, occupational level and educational attainment. Housewives were found to report the highest levels of symptom expression. Visits to physicians due to PMS were found to be higher than is usually reported in the medical literature.