Effect of Yoga on Psychological Aspect and Quality of Life in Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is identified by physical, psychological, and behavioral manifestations that severely disrupt women's daily lives during the luteal phase. Yoga emphasizes integration and connection, which enhances spiritual and biopsychosocial well-being. Purpose: To explore the effectiveness of yoga on psychological aspects and quality of life (QoL) in PMS. Subjects and methods: Forty-six females with PMS were involved; they aged from 18 to 25 years, and their body mass index wasn’t greater than 30 kg/m². They were allocated from Al Sharquia's Abu-Kabir Central Hospital. They were randomized and split into two equal groups. Control: (n = 23) who practiced progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), three sessions weekly for eight weeks. Study group: (n = 23) who practiced the same PMR plus yoga three times weekly for eight weeks. All females in the two groups were assessed before and after intervention via the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, cortisol level, SF-36 Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale, and Daily Record of Severity of Problems. Results: Between-groups comparison indicated a significant improvement in all assessed outcomes after treatment (p < 0.05), favoring the study group. However, a non-significant difference was detected in the vitality of the SF-36 questionnaire (P>0.05). Conclusion: As yoga is a secure and non-invasive treatment approach, it may be utilized as a successful therapy to improve QoL and lessen psychological aspects of PMS.