Efficacy of a 12-week Yogic Intervention on Premenstrual Syndrome Severity Among Adolescent Girls in Punjab: A School-Based Community Health Intervention

Introduction: Women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) show emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms regularly every month. Mild physiological symptoms of PMS appear in 95% of women at their reproductive age. Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PMS and evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week yogic intervention in managing PMS among school-going adolescent girls in Punjab, India. Materials and Methods: A total of 450 adolescent girls were screened for PMS prevalence using a standardized questionnaire. For assessing efficacy, 100 participants diagnosed with PMS were recruited using a purposive sampling technique, with 50 in the yoga group and 50 in the control group. PMS severity was assessed thrice: baseline and after 8 and 12 weeks of yogic intervention. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software to evaluate significant differences between groups. Results: The majority of adolescents (68%) experienced varying degrees of PMS. A total of 94 adolescent girls completed the study, with 48 in the yoga group and 46 in the control group. Yogic intervention significantly reduced PMS severity in the yoga group ( P = 0.032) compared to the control group. In the yoga group, postinterventional PMS levels were significantly associated with BMI, age, and menstrual duration ( P < 0.05). Conversely, the control group showed no significant associations with the selected background variables. Conclusion: This study suggested yoga as a promising holistic approach for managing PMS-related discomfort and distress.