A Structural Model for Premenstrual Coping in University Students: Based on Biopsychosocial Model

Abstract

The aims of this study were to construct a hypothetical structural model which explains premenstrual coping in university students and to test the fitness with collected data. Participants were 206 unmarried women university students from 3 universities in A and B cities. Data were collected from March 29 until April 30, 2016 using self-report structured questionnaires and were analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 18.0. Physiological factor was identified as a significant predictor of premenstrual syndrome (t=6.45, p<.001). This model explained 22.1% of the variance in premenstrual syndrome. Psychological factors (t=-2.49, p=.013) and premenstrual syndrome (t=8.17, p<.001) were identified as significant predictors of premenstrual coping. Also this model explained 30.9% of the variance in premenstrual coping in university students. A physiological factors directly influenced premenstrual syndrome (β=.41, p=.012). Premenstrual syndrome (β=.55, p=.005) and physiological factor (β=.23, p=.015) had significant total effects on premenstrual coping. Physiological factor did not have a direct influence on premenstrual coping, but indirectly affected it (β=.22, p=.007). Psychological factors did not have an indirect or total effect on premenstrual coping, but directly affected it (β=-.17, p=.036). These findings suggest that strategies to control physiological factors such as menstrual pain should be helpful to improve premenstrual syndrome symptoms. When developing a program to improve premenstrual coping ability and quality of menstrual related health, it is important to consider psychological factors including perceived stress and menstrual attitude and premenstrual syndrome.