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

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

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.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/29-2/Vol%2...

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.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	sugar confectionery
AGROVOC Term:	stress
AGROVOC Term:	nutritive value
AGROVOC Term:	human behaviour
AGROVOC Term:	consumer behaviour
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	10 Aug 2026 01:57
Last Modified:	10 Aug 2026 01:57
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3594

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