The relationship between premenstrual syndrome and circadian rhythm, depressive mood, and anxiety

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is prevalent among young women and may influence both mental well-being and circadian patterns. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) has been associated with circadian rhythm disruptions, as circadian rhythms regulate physiological and biological functions throughout the day. This study investigates the impact of PMS on mental health and its association with chronotype and social jetlag among nursing students. This cross-sectional descriptive and comparative study included 98 female nursing students enrolled at a university during the spring semester of 2023. Participants who provided informed consent via Google Forms were classified into PMS and without PMS groups according to their Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS) scores. Data were collected using the PMSS, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Social Jetlag Questionnaire. The participants' mean age was 21.13 ± 1.46 years, their mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.75 ± 3.04, and the mean total PMSS score was 135.45 ± 42.64. Students with PMS exhibited significantly higher depression (p < 0.001, O. R = 1.126) and anxiety scores (p < 0.001, O. R = 1.094) than those without PMS. PMS presence significantly affected both depression and anxiety scores (p < 0.001, Std. Beta = 0.474; p < 0.001, Std. Beta = 0.429, respectively). No statistically significant impact of PMS on social jetlag or chronotype was observed. However, in the group with PMS, a positive and significant correlation was found between PMSS total score and social jetlag (r = 0.351, p = 0.013) and BAI total scores (r = 0.350, p = 0.013). This study demonstrates that PMS significantly affects the mental health of nursing students, as those with PMS reported higher levels of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the finding that social jetlag and anxiety increased as PMS severity increased suggests that circadian rhythm irregularities may be a factor to consider in symptom management. This study has some limitations, including the use of self-reported data and a relatively small sample size, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. It is recommended that future research should confirm these relationships with larger samples and longitudinal designs.