Younger Women’s Wellness with PMS
Premenstrual symptoms affects many women during their reproductive years, and healthy lifestyle changes have been shown to help reduce their impact. However, the effectiveness of multiple health behaviour change (MHBC) interventions was largely untested. This study examined the feasibility of a 12-week MHBC intervention for female university students aged 18–35 experiencing premenstrual symptoms.
A sequential mixed-methods design was used, beginning with a three-group randomised pilot trial. One group received the full MHBC intervention, while the others received either a period tracking app or a health behaviour intervention alone. Semi-structured interviews with participants in the full intervention group explored the intervention’s acceptability, usefulness, and sustainability.
Findings will inform the feasibility of a larger trial and provid insight into how premenstrual symptoms affected students’ health and wellbeing. The study was grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory.
This study was led By Professor Debra Anderson with PhD student Gayatri Marwah. The 12-week program that Gayatri worked on promoted wellness among young women who were studying at University and suffered from PMS.
Gayatri completed her PhD at Griffith University working on a multi-modal behavioural program for management of Premenstrual Syndrome and functional health and wellbeing in University students under the supervision of Prof. Debra Anderson, Dr Charrlotte Seib, and Dr Katina Corones-Watkins. Gayatri has completed her degree in Master of Public health through Griffith University.
Gayatri is an Ayurvedic Doctor (ancient Indian medicine) and has practiced in Brisbane for the past four years. She completed her Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery in India and has since been working in a clinical environment. She is also a registered yoga and meditation teacher.
Her publications include, Effects of Probiotics on Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Sepsis, Intraventricular Hemorrhage, Mortality, Length of Hospital Stay, and Weight Gain in Very Preterm Infants: A Meta-Analysis.
This study is currently closed.
Papers
- Marwah, G., McGuire, A., Cooke, M., Anderson, D., & Seib, C. (2021). Feasibility of a multiple health behavior change program for premenstrual symptoms in university students: A study protocol. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 48, 101399.
