Effects of group counseling with cognitivebehavioral approach on reducing symptoms of premenstrual syndrome

Approximately 90 percent of women experience one symptom of premenstrual syndrome (Hesiao, 2002) and these symptoms affect women's relationships with their family, work environment and society. Women suffering from Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) tend to have negative attitudes towards their own psychological changes. Negative attitudes and inappropriate adaptive reactions may bring about physiological consequences.This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of counseling with cognitive-behavioral approach on reducing PMS symptoms.

The research method was quasi experimental with pre test-post test design and control group. The statistical population included 420 women aged 25 to 45 who were willing to cooperate through the call. The sampling was done voluntarily. After collecting the questionnaires, eliminating incomplete forms and according to the age range of participants (45-25 years), 34 women who were identified to suffer from Premenstrual syndrome were selected by available sampling method as the statistical sample and were randomly divided into two groups named control and intervention each of which containing 17 members. Hypothesizes were tested by co-variance analysis after 10 sessions of cognitivebehavioral consultation.

Statistical analysis of results indicated that the post-test scores have been affected by the independent variable (F=113.24, P<0.05, Sig (2-tailed) = P – Value = 0.00<0.05=α) and the total mean score of intervention group for ore-test declined from 36.87 to 26.32 at post-test. But, this amount for control group changed from 35.80 to 34.71 which did not show a significant difference.

The results of this study showed that cognitivebehavioral therapy had positive effects on PMS symptoms of female staffs of Science and Industry University and have relieved their symptoms.