The Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise and Kinesio Taping on Stress, Depression, and Sleep Quality in University Students with Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), Kinesio taping (KT), and their combination for premenstrual symptoms, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality in university students meeting a PMSS-based screening criterion. Methods: In this four-arm randomized trial, 180 students were initially assigned to PMR, KT, PMR + KT, or control (45/group). Fourteen discontinued after baseline, before intervention initiation, and were replaced. Primary longitudinal mixed-effects analyses retained the originally randomized cohort; replacements were included only in sensitivity analyses. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Pairwise comparisons were Bonferroni-adjusted. Registration was retrospective (NCT07791121). Results: Premenstrual symptom severity showed a significant group-by-time interaction (Wald χ2(6) = 199.20, p < 0.001), with lower PMSS scores in all intervention groups versus control at post-intervention and follow-up (all adjusted p < 0.001). The depressive symptom interaction was nominally significant (p = 0.045); only PMR versus control at post-intervention remained significant after adjustment (MD = −3.90; adjusted 95% CI, −7.59 to −0.20). This finding was sensitive to missing-data assumptions. No significant interactions were observed for stress or sleep quality. Conclusions: All interventions were associated with lower premenstrual symptom severity than control. Evidence for depressive symptoms was limited; stress and sleep outcomes showed no significant differential effects. These findings may also have broader relevance to women’s health and to efforts aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).