the effect of progressive muscle relaxation program on the depression anxiety, and stress of premenstrual syndrome in female students

background: background: premenstrual syndrome is mental - neural - endocrinal disorders that lead to impaired communication, natural activity, physical inactivity, and reduce motivation, careful activity daily living. if the sever it of the symptoms of pms is excessive, could be affected a person’s life style, health and welfare. this syndrome as a disease can be caused by changes in the demographic and behavior of female students and has a significant impact on academic performance. the aim of this study was evaluate the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on the parameters of depression, anxiety, and stress related to premenstrual syndrome in female students in university dormitories. methods: this interventional quesi-exprimental study was done in 2011-2012 educational year in female student of isfahan university dormitories’. participants of study were 64 female students with premenstrual syndrome were randomly selected and divided in two groups’ trial (32) and control (32). after used 6 sessions progressive muscle relaxation program in trial group and fallow up it for 2 month, demographic, psst and dass21 questionnaire completed with trial group.  after 6 sessions questionnaires completed by trial and control groups, data analyzed with statistical tests such as independent t test, repeated measurement, chi-square and mann -whitney u with spss18. findings: chi-square and mann -whitney u showed no significant differences in demographic variables in two groups (p>0.05). repeated measurement test showed no significant differences in mean score of premenstrual syndrome before, after and 2 months after in control group, where as this test showed significant differences in trial group (p<0.05). independent sample t test showed no significant differences in mean score of stress and anxiety before intervention in two groups, but after and 2 months after intervention, significant differences in mean score of stress and anxiety were existed(p<0.05). independent sample t test showed no significant differences in mean score of depression before intervention in two groups, but 2 months after intervention, despite mean score of depression decrees, this differences was not significant in trial group(p=0.09). conclusion: application of progressive muscle relaxation program for premenstrual syndrome and female students leads to decrease student’s depression, anxiety and stress. with attention to the grade of this students, that is one of the most critical periods of the life cycle of each them and pms syndrome in this section lead to disabilities in social and academic functioning faces, and according to safety, inexpensive, effectiveness and efficiency of this program, application of this program is suggested for controlling depression, anxiety and stress of female students’. key words : progressive muscle relaxation, premenstrual syndrome, depression, anxiety, stress, students