Investigation of the Effects of WEB-based Lifestyle Training and Progressive Relaxation Training in Women With Premenstrual Syndrome: 4-Week Follow-up Randomized Controlled Trial

Improving and maintaining health and quality of life in women is possible by protecting reproductive health . Menstruation, an important indicator of reproductive health, is a significant process that continues from adolescence to menopause in women. Women may encounter various problems related to the menstruation process . One of the most important of these problems is premenstrual syndrome (PMS) .

Premenstrual syndrome is seen in 30-40% of women of reproductive age and is characterized by a series of physical, psychological, emotional, behavioral, and social symptoms that begin in the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. These symptoms typically begin in the luteal phase and end within a few days after menstruation. Common symptoms of PMS include changes in appetite, irritability, depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, headaches, weight gain, constipation, fatigue, abdominal and lower back pain, breast swelling and tenderness, and mood swings. The cyclical nature of symptom changes is one of the syndrome's notable features. Although the etiology of PMS is uncertain, it is thought that the common symptoms may largely result from sex steroids secreted during the luteal phase and the serotonin mechanism in the central nervous system .

PMS causes a decrease in workforce productivity and the quality of work life, leading to economic losses and an increase in accident potential. In addition, these symptoms have been observed to reduce young women's self-esteem, school attendance (if they are students), academic success, and desire to engage in hobbies, thus negatively affecting their participation in meaningful and purposeful activities, also known as occupations . A study by Park et al. (2023) identified three problematic areas in women with PMS: occupational disruption, social disruption, and a decrease in self-awareness while engaging in their occupations. Additionally, it has been observed that PMS symptoms interfere with women's ability to perform their occupations, including self-care, productivity, and leisure, thereby disrupting their routines and interpersonal relationships. Other studies, such as one by Süt et al. (2006), found that PMS decreased work-related quality of life in working women (n=134). In another study by Victor et al. (2019), conducted with female students (n=634) in Brazil, it was found that students with PMS had lower quality of life and academic achievement compared to asymptomatic students. Similarly, a study conducted with female students (n=235) in Northern India found a moderate correlation between PMS and health-related quality of life (Bhuvaneswari et al., 2019). Additionally, it was reported that premenstrual symptoms negatively impacted daily life activities, learning activities, and even communication with friends and family. Thus, creating an effective and widespread intervention protocol for PMS, which imposes a socioeconomic burden and negatively affects occupational participation and quality of life in women, is of great importance.

Occupational therapy is a health profession that promotes lifestyle changes and habits that enhance health, facilitating participation in meaningful and purposeful activities. Non-pharmacological methods aimed at alleviating the physical and psychiatric symptoms of PMS, such as yoga, Pilates, aerobic exercises, electrotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, have been used. One of the important methods used in PMS management is lifestyle change interventions aimed at instilling and maintaining behaviors such as diet, sleep hygiene, and exercise. A randomized controlled trial conducted by Alyazkaya et al. (2020) demonstrated that lifestyle education based on the health belief model reduced PMS symptoms. Similarly, a randomized controlled trial by Yılmaz & Aydın (2019) found that diet and exercise reduced PMS symptoms. Studies have emphasized the importance of expanding the scope of interventions that include lifestyle changes. Thus, it is important to expand the impact of lifestyle interventions on PMS symptoms and compare them with different interventions.

Controlling lifestyle changes and symptoms in PMS is only possible through behavior change. Recent studies have suggested the use of various tools (mobile-based, tele-rehabilitation, phone) to promote behavior change in PMS. Among these tools, one of the most noteworthy is web-based lifestyle interventions. Web-based applications are preferred in healthcare interventions due to their accessibility, ease of use, cost/time efficiency, centralization of user health data, and the ability to update remotely.However, studies on web-based lifestyle change interventions in women with PMS are limited (Bastani & Hashemi, 2012). In a study by Bastani & Hashemi (2012), web-based lifestyle change education was found to improve general health and well-being in university students with PMS after the intervention. Therefore, further studies are needed to understand and expand the use of web-based lifestyle education in PMS.