Association of anxiety persistence, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and problematic internet use with cognitive dysfunction in anxious reproductive-aged women: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Women of reproductive age often face hormonal fluctuations, dual‐role pressures, and a tendency to use the internet as a coping mechanism, all of which may lead to persistent distress and impair memory and concentration. This study aimed to identify the associations between anxiety persistence and severity, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and problematic internet use (PIU) and cognitive function in women of reproductive age. METHODS: In this cross‑sectional analytic observational study at Baiturrahman Primary Health Care Centers in Banda Aceh, Indonesia (March 2025), 86 women aged 19–45 were recruited via accidental sampling. Initial anxiety screening used the GAD‑7, excluding scores 0–4 and including only respondents with scores ≥ 5. We then assessed PMDD with the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), PIU via a standardized questionnaire, and cognitive dysfunction using Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Indonesian Version (MoCA‑INA), where dysfunction was defined as a score < 26. RESULTS: The majority of respondents experienced cognitive dysfunction (74.42%, n=64). This occurred within a sample where 61.63% (n= 53) exhibited severe anxiety and 53.49% (n=46) had anxiety lasting ≥ 5 years. Additionally, 39.53% (n=34) screened positive for PMDD and 77.91% were classified as having problematic internet use. Significant associations were found between cognitive dysfunction and anxiety severity (Odds Ratio, OR = 4.7; 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 1.23–17.9; p-value, p = 0.023), anxiety duration ≥ 5 years (OR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.27–18.9; p = 0.021), PMDD positivity (OR = 7.3; 95% CI: 1.48–36.6; p = 0.015), and problematic internet use (OR = 5.7; 95% CI: 1.33–24.7; p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Anxiety severity and duration, PMDD, and problematic internet use are associated with cognitive dysfunction among reproductive-aged women.