The Relationship Between Premenstrual Syndrome and Emotional Eating in Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: The negative effects of eating habits in parallel with the emotional turmoil in adolescence may cause the failure to fully meet nutritional requirements and may also increase the severity of the Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between premenstrual syndrome symptoms and emotional eating attitudes in adolescents. Methods: The descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study was conducted with 242 female adolescents aged 12-18 years. Data were collected using a questionnaire, the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS) and the Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (EES-C-T). Results: It was found that depressive symptoms and restless mood increased in EES-C-T and its sub-dimensions as fatigue increased among PMSS sub-dimensions, that depressive symptoms increased in EES-C-T sub-dimensions as irritability and depressive thoughts increased among PMSS sub-dimensions, and that EES-C-T and its sub-dimensions increased as symptoms related to appetite changes increased among PMSS sub-dimensions (p<0.05). In addition, it was found that depressive symptoms among EES-C-T sub-dimensions increased as PMSS increased (p<0.05). Conclusion: In the study, 74% of adolescents were found to have premenstrual syndrome. The presence of depressive symptoms in adolescents experiencing PMS may increase emotional eating behavior. Evaluating the eating habits of adolescents who experience premenstrual syndrome symptoms may be effective in improving quality of life and psychological health.