Relationship between Mindfulness, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, Self-Silencing and Perceived Stress with Premenstrual Syndrome: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

This study aimed to investigate mindfulness, difficulties in emotion regulation, self-silencing, and perceived stress as predictors of premenstrual syndrome.

The research design was descriptive and correlational study with structural equation modeling procedure. In this regard, using a multi-stage random sampling method, a sample of 380 female students of the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz was selected. Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool (PSST), Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory _ Short Form (FMI-SF), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (S-DERS), Silencing the Self Scale, and Perceived Stress Questionnaire was completed.

The results showed that there is a significant direct and negative relationship between mindfulness and perceived stress, but there is a significant direct and positive relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and self-silencing with perceived stress. There was also a strong significant relationship between perceived stress and premenstrual syndrome. The most important finding suggests that perceived stress mediates the effects of mindfulness, difficulty in emotion regulation, and self-Silencing on premenstrual syndrome. According to the findings, the proposed model fits the data and is approved.

Based on the findings, it can be concluded that mindfulness, difficulty in emotion regulation, self-silencing, and perceived stress play an effective role in the risk of premenstrual syndrome. In this regard, lack of acceptance and awareness of emotions and suppression of emotions leads to high-stress perception. Ultimately, this pattern will culminate in experiencing more severe PMS symptoms.