Factors associated with premenstrual syndrome - a survey of new female university students.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can impact an individual's interpersonal relation- ships, social interactions, productivity, lifestyle, school performance and emotional well- being. This study was designed to explore the factors associated with PMS in new female university students in Taiwan. The test battery included a self-administered structured ques- tionnaire, the five-item brief symptoms rating scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Chinese Premenstrual Symptom Questionnaire. Additionally, details of the participants' life- styles and family and personal histories of physical illness were recorded. Serum lipids were also measured. Of all the participants (N Z 1699), 39.85% were defined as having PMS. Using logistical regression analysis, we found a positive relationship between PMS and consuming more foods containing egg yolk, greater alcohol intake, poorer sleep quality, higher likelihood of psychiatric morbidity, family history of dyslipidemia, and a higher serum cholesterol level. The results show that PMS is prevalent among new female university students and that lifestyle and nutritional/metabolic factors may play a role in this disorder.