Sugar craving and stress levels during different phases of menstrual cycle among university students

Mohd Shukri, Nor Azwani and Syafie, Riyadhina Husniyati and Wan Mahmood, Wan Fathin Fariza (2023) Sugar craving and stress levels during different phases of menstrual cycle among university students. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition (MJN), 29 (2). pp. 267-272. ISSN 1394-035X E-ISSN 2811-3292

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Abstract

Introduction: The menstrual cycle in women is often associated with appetite control, mood, and behavioural changes due to hormonal imbalance. However, levels of sugar craving and stress during pre- and post-menstrual periods have not been thoroughly studied. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare levels of stress and sugar cravings during different phases of menstrual cycle among university students. Methods: Participants aged 19–25 years were assessed for sugar craving and stress during pre- and post-menstrual periods. They were requested to fill out the Sugar Craving Assessment Tool (SCAT) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaires on the first day of menses (the pre-menses phase) by recalling how they felt throughout the past seven days. The participants completed the same set of questionnaires again two days after their menses ended (post-menses phase) by recalling how they felt within the previous two days. Results: Ninety-three students participated in the study. Pre-menstrual SCAT score (40.0±19.6) was higher than post-menstrual SCAT score (32.1±19.4), t(91)=4.82, p<0.001. Mean PSS-10 score was also higher before menstruation (22.8±6.2) than after menstruation (17.5±6.1), t(91)=6.26, p<0.001. There was no significant difference in mean sugar craving scores of different stress categories, either during pre-menses [F(2,90)=1.39, p=0.256] or post-menses [F(2,90)=0.89, p=0.415]. Conclusion: The findings indicate that levels of sugar craving and stress were higher during pre-menstrual phase compared to post-menstrual phase in young adults. However, whether sugar cravings are linked to stress during the menstrual cycle is inconclusive and requires further investigation.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	menstrual cycle, post-menses, pre-menses, stress, sugar cravings
Subjects:	R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology > RM214 Diet therapy. Diet and dietectics in disease
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Nutrition Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr Nor Azwani Mohd Shukri
Date Deposited:	25 Jul 2023 11:07
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2023 09:32
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/105753

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