Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire Research Articles

Effectiveness of 8-Week Exercise Programs in Improving Menstrual Characteristics in Female Adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 8-week exercise programs (aerobic, stretching, and aerobic plus stretching) in improving menstrual characteristics in female adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, seventy-eight healthy female adolescents aged 12-18 from secondary and high schools in Riyadh participated. Participants were divided into three groups and subjected to different types of exercises (aerobic, stretching, and aerobic plus stretching) for 20-30 min, three times a week. Menstrual pain, stress, and attitudes were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale, Adolescent Stress Questionnaire Short Version, and Adolescent Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire, respectively. Assessments were conducted before the intervention and after the third menstrual period post-intervention. Results: The aerobic exercise group experienced a significant reduction in the mean length of the menstrual cycle (p = 0.025). The aerobic plus stretching group had the most significant reduction in mean menstrual pain scores (p < 0.0001). Stress scores were significantly reduced in the stretching group (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: We conclude that combining aerobic and stretching exercises significantly reduces menstrual pain, while aerobic exercise decreases menstrual cycle length and pain.

Men on Menstruation: A Causal Comparative Analysis of College Males’ Attitudes Toward Menstruation

This research explores how sibling dynamics impact college men's views on menstruation. While existing studies have looked at various angles of attitudes toward menstruation, there's a noticeable gap concerning the role of family, specifically siblings. This study fills that gap by examining whether having a sister who menstruates influences a college man's views on the topic. Using a quantitative approach, we conducted an online survey based on a modified Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire. A total of 48 undergraduate males participated, half of whom have a sister who menstruates. Data were analyzed using t-Tests, comparing average responses between the two groups. Initial findings suggest that having a sister could play a role in shaping attitudes toward menstruation, although the average responses between the two groups were similar. This research adds a new dimension to existing literature by focusing on a specific age group and their family influences, offering a fresh perspective on attitudes toward menstruation. The study is timely and relevant, given the ongoing societal discussions about menstruation and women's health. It opens the door for further research to validate these findings and explore other family and social factors that may shape attitudes toward menstruation. Examining the perspectives of young people and their familial environment provides fresh insights into society's views on menstrual health. This research is especially timely as discussions about women's health, including menstruation, are gaining more public attention than ever before.

Edukasi Kesehatan Reproduksi Remaja Putri dan Pembentukan Kader Remaja Sehat Reproduksi

This community service aims to increase young women's knowledge and form a cadre of reproductively healthy teenagers. The method for implementing this service was counseling and FGD. The evaluation instrument used the adolescent menstrual attitude questionnaire, which was analyzed descriptively. The results of this service showed that there had been significant changes in young women's knowledge regarding reproductive health and attitudes towards maintaining reproductive health during menstruation and the environment. This result was proven by pretest-posttest data on the knowledge and attitudes of young women in maintaining personal and environmental hygiene during menstruation. Apart from that, reproductive health cadres had been formed to support school activities and personal hygiene for young women. These cadres were volunteers and provided their peers with information related to reproductive health to their peers.

Effects of Heat Treatment On Dysmenorrhea and Its Mental Health Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This randomized controlled prospective experimental trial was conducted with 46 students with dysmenorrhea who were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the heat treatment group (HTG) ( n = 23) and control group (CG) ( n = 23). To HTG, dry heat was applied for 20 minutes to the lower abdominal region of the subjects when their dysmenorrhea was most severe. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) were used in this study. At the first menstrual cycle, both groups received the questionnaires, and no treatment was applied. At the second, third, and fourth menstrual cycles, VAS and SF-MPQ were applied before the treatment (T1), right after the treatment (T2), and 2 hours after the treatment (T3). MAQ and DASS were applied right after the treatment. Seven subjects from HTG and four subjects from CG were excluded from the study on account of their analgesic medicine usage, inability to menstruate, or by their own requests. When HTG and CG were compared, the decrease in the dysmenorrhea pain after the heat treatment in each of the three menstrual cycles was found to be statistically significant ( P &lt; 0.05). In each of the four menstrual cycles, depression, anxiety, and stress were detected in each subject in both groups. However, the effectiveness of the treatment was not determined ( P &gt; 0.05). In HTG, awareness of the changes during menstruation was diminished with time. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2023;53(6):270–281.]

Assessment of relationship between premenstrual syndrome symptoms with sleep quality and menstrual attitudes in medical students: A cross-sectional study

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is defined as the recurring occurrence of some symptoms before and during the early days of menstruation and negatively impacts reproductive-age women and affects their standard of living. PMS is one of the physiological conditions that can affect women’s sleep quality, self-esteem, and impair their standard of living. Aims and Objectives: (i) To assess the correlation between the symptoms of pre-menstruation and quality of sleep; (ii) To assess the correlation between the symptoms of pre-menstruation and attitude towards menstruation; and (iii) To study the result of PMS scale (PMSS) scores by attitudes of menstruation and quality of sleep. Materials and Methods: Study participants who were medical students were instructed to complete the questionnaires regarding socio-anthropological information and questions related to their attitude towards menstruation, quality of sleep, and symptoms of PMS. Results: The study determines a high positive significant correlation between the PMSS score and the mean score of sleep quality (r = 0.894, P &lt; 0.001) and a high negative significant correlation between symptoms of the PMSS score and the total menstrual attitude mean score (r = −0.807, P &lt; 0.001). The total PMSS score was significantly affected by the total score of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (β = 4.603; P &lt; 0.001) and the menstrual attitude questionnaire (β = −4.988; P = 0.001), as shown by multiple linear regression analysis. Conclusion: Poor quality of sleep and a negative menstrual attitude are associated with PMS symptoms. Identifying coping mechanisms for PMS and educating the girls in the reproductive age group may improve their standard of living.

Relationships between Gender Roles and Attitudes Towards Menstruation and Perception of Menstrual Pain in Iranian Women

Background: Menstruation is a prominent mark of womanhood. It is necessary to explore what factors may develop female attitudes towards this natural phenomenon in different populations. Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationships between gender roles and attitudes towards menstruation and perception of menstrual pain among Iranian women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 164 women of reproductive age in Torbat-e Heydariyeh in the east of Iran between September and December 2019. The participants completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI), Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and Verbal Multidimensional Scoring System (VMSS). Data analysis was then performed in SPSS 16.0. Results: According to the results, menstruation was perceived as a natural phenomenon more significantly by the androgynous group than by the undifferentiated and masculine groups (p&lt;0.05). It was also perceived as a predictable phenomenon more significantly by the feminine women than by the other gender role groups (p&lt;0.05). Furthermore, the gender role groups had no significant differences in the prevalence and severity of menstrual pain (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: Androgynous women considered menstruation a natural phenomenon more often. Psychological interventions should focus on the correction of attitudes towards menstruation, especially in women with femininity, masculinity, and undifferentiated gender roles.

Development of a scale to evaluate negative menstrual attitudes among Nepalese women

BackgroundMenstrual attitudes include negative and positive perceptions of menstruation and are associated with reproductive health, underscoring the importance of its evaluation in women. Given that social and cultural factors affect menstrual attitudes, developing evaluation methods specific to distinct societal cultures is necessary.MethodsWe developed a scale based on the menstrual attitude questionnaire, which is the most widely used measure of menstrual attitudes, to evaluate negative menstrual attitudes among Nepalese women in consideration of Nepalese cultural backgrounds and literacy. In total, 352 Nepalese women aged 20–45 years living in urban or suburban areas in Nepal were enrolled in the study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups using the permuted block method. Using the prototype, Group 1 (n = 176) was evaluated with an exploratory factor analysis to develop a reliable scale, and Group 2 (n = 176) was evaluated with a confirmatory factor analysis to confirm the structure of negative menstrual attitudes. Further, we preliminarily examined the relationship of negative menstrual attitudes with the frequency of traditional menstrual practices and intensity of menstrual pain, which are significant reproductive health issues in Nepal, in Group 2.ResultsWe developed a 15-item, 3-factor scale to evaluate negative menstrual attitudes among Nepalese women using exploratory factor analysis. The first, second, and third factors were “Natural event” (α = 0.82), “Debilitating event” (α = 0.76), and “Bothersome event” (α = 0.69), respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that negative menstrual attitudes comprised a 3-factor structure. Participants who performed three traditional menstrual practices (“stay in their own house”, “go to public spaces”, and “contact with others generally”) demonstrated significantly higher scores for negative menstrual attitudes than did non-performers. Negative menstrual attitudes were positively correlated with the intensity of menstrual pain (r = 0.558).ConclusionsThis study is the first to evaluate menstrual attitudes and analyse its factor structure among Nepalese women. In the future, the relationship between accurately evaluated negative menstrual attitudes and reproductive health issues should be examined more comprehensively.

The Relationship Between Menstrual Patterns and Menstrual Attitude Dimensions among Women of Reproductive Age: Cross-sectional survey.

ObjectivesWomen’s attitudes towards menstruation play a critical role in shaping their bodies and psychosocial integrity. Menstruation is affected by certain bio-psychosocial factors, necessitating an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon to cope better with the consequent difficulties. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between menstrual patterns and menstrual attitude dimensions in women of reproductive-age.MethodsAn observational cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December 2019 on women referred to various urban health centres of Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. The Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire and Verbal Multidimensional Scoring systems were used to collect the required data. The features of the menstrual cycle were also recorded.ResultsA total of 164 women (response rate: 96.74%) were included in this study. Women with dysmenorrhea perceived menstruation as a more debilitating, bothersome and predictable event and they were less likely to deny any menstrual effect (P = 0.001). The results also revealed that subjective menstrual blood loss was associated with higher levels of perceiving menstruation as a natural (P = 0.008), bothersome (P = 0.026) and anticipatory event (P = 0.021) and reporting less denial of any menstrual effect (P = 0.001). Moreover, women rated menstruation as a more bothersome event with an increase in the duration of menstrual bleeding (P = 0.014). There was no significant relationship between the other features of the menstrual cycle and menstrual dimensions (P >0.05).ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that women’s attitudes towards menstruation were associated with menstrual pain, duration of the menstrual cycle and subjective volume of menstrual flow. These factors could be used to modify women’s attitudes towards the natural phenomenon of menstruation.

The relationship between gender role and attitude toward menstruation with female sexual function: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundAlthough female sexual function can be affected by many psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors, limited studies have focused on the relationships between this construct with some concepts such as women's attitudes toward menstruation and perception from their gender role.ObjectiveTo investigate the association between gender roles and attitude toward menstruation with sexual function among Iranian reproductive women.Materials and MethodsAn observational cross-sectional study was carried out on a group of 164 Iranian women referred to the health centers of Torbat Heydariyeh, between August and December 2018. All eligible women filled the female sexual function index (FSFI), Bem Sex Role Inventory, and Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire.Results The result showed that the total FSFI score was significantly higher in masculine and androgynous gender role groups than women with undifferentiated gender role (p = 0.014, and p = 0.012, respectively). Nevertheless, androgynous women had better sexual arousal than undifferentiated women (p = 0.013). Significant reverse correlations were observed between the perception of menstruation as a debilitating, bothersome, and predictable event with a total score of FSFI and all subscales except lubrication (p = 0.001). In contrast, there was a positive relationship between denial of any effects of menstruation with total FSFI and all its sub-scores except lubrication (p = 0.001).ConclusionThis study highlighted the role of masculinity and androgyny gender role stereotypes and menstrual attitude in the sexual function of heterosexual women. Future studies are needed to explain how these psychological contexts contribute to different aspects of women's sexuality.

Symptoms experiences and attitudes towards menstruation among adolescent girls

The study aimed to analyse the factors affecting menstrual symptoms and attitudes among adolescent girls and the relationship between them. The sample of the cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical research was composed of 604 adolescent girls studying at a university. Individual Information Form, Menstruation Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) and Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) were used as data collection tool in the research. Average age of the students was 21.22 ± 1.71, and average menstrual cycle length was 29.3 ± 7.85 days. MSQ mean score was 69.84 ± 15.48 and MAQ mean score was 103.10 ± 9.84. These results are important for showing that students perceive menstruation as a natural phenomenon, despite significant menstrual symptoms. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? The intensity of menstrual symptoms is associated with negative menstrual attitudes. But, there have been few studies on the relationship between menstruation symptoms and attitudes and their impact on menstrual problems in Turkish adolescents. What the results of this study add? Adolescents’ menstrual complaints are common, but their attitudes towards menstruation are positive. The lack of a significant relationship between menstrual symptoms and attitudes were more likely to be explained by the fact that young girls perceive menstruation as a natural phenomenon even though they have so many symptoms. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further study should be extended to various cultures and destinations to understand the effect of culture on menstruation that rural areas may be surrounded by taboos and myths which might affect the negative attitude.

Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program on Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent School Girls

Introduction: Adolescent girls face different physical conversions, sexual changes and psychological pressures associated with growth and maturity, menstruation being one of them. Menstruation is still clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions resulting in ignorance of scientific facts and hygienic health practices. Since response to menstruation depends upon awareness and knowledge about issues, menstrual hygiene education has shown to be effective in improving health by developing good knowledge, attitude and practice among adolescent girls. Methods: An analytical study with one group pretest – posttest design was carried out to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching program on menstrual hygiene among 100 adolescent school girls studying in a public school in Palpa. Pretested semi structured questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and practice whereas valid MAQ (Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire) was used for attitude. This was followed by structured teaching program consisting of information on menstruation, myths and hygiene. Then a posttest was conducted after a week to the same respondents. Results: The study resulted in statistically significant improvements (P<0.001) in total knowledge (63% to 66%), attitude (47% to 63%) and practice (43% to 49%) after implementation of the structured teaching program. There was positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores (r=0.023), attitude and practice scores (r=0.026) and knowledge and practice scores (r=0.183). Conclusion: The structured teaching program is effective in improving knowledge, attitude and practice on menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls. Thus, adding menstrual hygiene as part of curriculum may break the culture of silence.

The Effects of a Dysmenorrhea Support Program on University Students Who Had Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Study.

This study aims to determine the results of a cognitive-behavioral approach in a dysmenorrhea support program that covers the symptoms, acquaintance, and attitudes toward menstruation of university students who had primary dysmenorrhea. This randomized controlled, prospective, experimental study was carried out in a nursing school using a pretest-posttest design. A total of 682 female nursing students and 584 volunteers from the 2017-2018 academic year participated in a study of the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (94.0%). Study subjects were first-year female nursing students who scored severe on a visual analog scale for primary dysmenorrhea. As a result of the analysis, 80 female nursing students were assigned to study and control groups. A total of 60 students, 29 in the study group and 31 in the control group, completed the study. The study group participated in a 6-session cognitive-behavioral approach in a dysmenorrhea support program. No intervention was administered to the control group. The control group and the study group were followed by using data collection forms during three menstrual cycles. The Participant Introductory Form (PIF), Dysmenorrhea Follow-up Form (DFF), Dysmenorrhea Information Form (DIF), Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea Scale (FEDS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) were used to measure outcomes. In the case of primary dysmenorrhea, the use of nonpharmacological methods was higher in the study group than in the control group. In the third cycle, although the rate of analgesics use was 20.7% in the study group, it was 50% in the control group. Primary dysmenorrhea symptoms, pain levels, and analgesic use decreased. No change was observed in the attitude toward menstruation. A cost-effective, reliable, cognitive-behavioral approach-based dysmenorrhea support program can be used to relieve symptoms, decrease the use of analgesics, and increase knowledge about primary dysmenorrhea.

The effect of gender-role orientation on attitudes towards menstruation in a sample of female university students

Objective:To examine the effect of gender role orientation on attitudes towards menstruation in a sample of Iranian female students of medical sciences.Material and Methods:Three hundred female university students (94%; response rate: 282) were enrolled in the study via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and the short version of the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). Data were analyzed using SPSS v.18. Analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U test.Results:The mean scores of the MAQ subscales ranged from 3.7±1.35 to 5.6±1.3, indicating that most of the respondents had natural to moderate attitudes toward menstruation. When participants were classified into one of four gender-role categories of BSRI, the results showed that the undifferentiated group with 33.7% was higher than other gender-role groups. The undifferentiated group was significantly less likely than the other groups to perceive “menstruation as a natural event”.Conclusion:The study shows an association between gender-role orientation and attitudes toward menstruation in female university students. However, further research is still necessary in this issue.

Short-term effects of connective tissue manipulation in women with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial

AimTo evaluate the short-term effectiveness of connective tissue manipulation (CTM) for relieving menstrual pain and symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea (PD). MethodsForty-four women with PD were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 21) or control group (n = 23). While the control group was given only advising, the treatment group additionally received CTM. The primary outcome was the menstrual pain intensity by Visual Analogue Scale. Secondary outcomes included the number of pain medications, menstrual pain catastrophizing by Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), menstrual symptoms by Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) and menstrual attitude by Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ). ResultsCompared with the control group, CTM group showed statistically significant improvement in pain, medication use, PCS, MSQ (p = 0.001) and in the perception of menstruation as a natural event (p = 0.029). However, no significant differences were detected between groups for some aspects of MAQ (p > 0.05). ConclusionsCTM seems to be an effective approach in the short-term in PD.

Emotional Reaction to Menarche and Menstrual Attitudes

The goal of this study was to examine current attitudes toward menstruation in adolescent postmenarcheal girls in relation to age at menarche, time since menarche had occurred, preparedness, and emotional reaction to menarche. Postmenarcheal adolescent girls from primary and secondary schools (N = 246) participated in the study, with an average age of 15.1 years and average age at menarche 12.4 years. Participants filled out the adapted version of Adolescent Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (AMAQ; Marvan &amp; Molina, 2002), Expected/Experienced Emotions related to Menarche Scale (Emo-M; Nakić Radoš, Mužinić Bikić, &amp; Roso Perić, in press), Preparedness for the Menarche (PM; Rodriguez White, 2013), and Pubertal Development Scale (PDS; Petersen, Crockett, Richards, &amp; Boxer, 1988). The two-way ANOVA showed that early maturers (≤11 years at menarche) had significantly higher level of negative attitudes than average maturers (12 years) and late maturers (≥13 years). Both early and average maturers had a higher level of secretive attitudes than late maturers. However, this effect was present only if menarche occurred in less than two years. Regression analyses showed that higher level of pleasant emotions at menarche predicted higher level of positive attitudes toward menstruation (45.2% variance explained). Lower age at menarche, less time from the menarche, and a higher level of unpleasant emotions at menarche predicted higher levels of secretive attitudes (35.1% variance explained) and negative attitudes (22.7% variance explained). In conclusion, age at menarche, time for adaptation to menstruation, and initial emotional reaction to menarche are significant determinants of menstrual attitudes in adolescent girls. Education and preparing girls for menstruation at early stages of puberty is necessary. Keywords: menarche, menstruation, attitudes, emotions, puberty

The Relationship of Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms with Menstrual Attitude and Sleep Quality in Turkish Nursing Student.

Symptoms induced by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) adversely affect the women in reproduction period and decrease their quality of life. In literature, it is a common opinion thought that PMS could be associated with both sleep quality and menstrual attitudes. However, there has been no sufficient number of studies to define in what ways the PMS symptoms are correlated with sleep quality and menstrual attitudes. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship of PMS symptoms with menstrual attitude and sleep quality. The data were collected from 183 nursing students at Health School of Artvin Çoruh University by using a correlational design. Voluntary students completed a questionnaire involving socio-demographic characteristics, Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Average age was 19.9 (1.8). The study determined a positively significant correlation between score of PMSS and mean scores of PSQI (r=0.306; P<0.001), and a negatively significant correlation between score of PMSS and total mean score of MAQ (r=-0.317; P<0.01). Similarly, multiple linear regression analysis showed that PSQI total score (β=5.412; P<0.001) and MAQ total score (β=-27.455; P=0.001) significantly affected total score of PMSS. The intensity of PMS symptoms is associated with poor sleep quality and negative menstrual attitudes. Determining the methods of coping with PMS and strengthening the young girls on this subject may enhance their quality of future life.

Attitude of female adolescents of purig tribe towards menstruation

Aim of the study was to assess the attitude of female adolescents towards menstruation. The sample for the study consisted of 32 adolescent's girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years studying in class 9 th to 12 th currently enrolled at Government Middle, High and Higher Secondary schools of Kargil block, J&K state. Random sampling technique was used to select the sample females from Purig tribe, a predominant Muslim tribe of the area. A standardized scale on Adolescent Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (AMAQ) developed by Morse et al. (1993) was used to assess the required attitude. The results revealed that on an average girl held more negative attitude towards menstruation then being positive attitudes towards it. The samples adolescent had accommodated living with menstruation and were open towards it however they had lesser acceptance of menarche. Most of the girls had faced menstrual symptoms but continued to visualize it with negativity.

Attitudes toward menstruation in females with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders in Taiwan

Objective The aims of this cross-sectional, case-controlled, observational study were to examine attitudes toward menstruation in female patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and in a control group, and to explore the associations between attitudes toward menstruation and psychopathology, menstrual regularity during antipsychotic treatment, and menstrual distress symptoms.Methods Fifty-eight patients treated with anti-psychotic medications for at least the previous 6 months were placed in irregular (irregular menstrual cycle) (n = 31) and regular (regular menstrual cycle) (n = 27) groups. Sixty-two, age-matched, healthy female participants with regular menstrual cycles were enrolled as a control group. Psychopathology was assessed by psychiatrists using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) was used to assess attitudes toward menstruation, and symptom checklists based on the Moos Menstruation Distress Questionnaire (MMDQ) were used to assess menstrual distress symptoms.Results Patients with psychotic disorders (both irregular and regular groups) had more negative attitudes toward menstruation than the control group. In the Schizophrenia group, there was no association between the severity of psychotic symptoms and their influence on attitudes toward menstruation. Moreover, regular menstrual cycles during antipsychotic treatment and fewer menstrual distress symptoms were the two main predictors for more positive attitudes toward menstruation in the patient group.Conclusion This is one of the first studies to explore the relationship between psychotic symptoms and attitudes toward menstruation. The findings provide more support for the assumption that attitudes toward menstruation are derived from a woman’s perception of her bodily experience rather than a psychiatric disorder.

Premenstrual syndrome and attitudes toward menstruation in a sample of nursing students

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate baccalaureate nursing students’ attitudes toward menstruation, and to analyze the frequency of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, as well as the relationship between attitudes toward menstruation and PMS symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between February 15 and March 10, 2009, in Ankara Turkey. The study participants were 250 undergraduate nursing student volunteers. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the validated Turkish version of the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and the validated Turkish Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Scale. Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. Findings: The average age of participants was 19.89 ± 1.43. The MAQ’s five subscales’ mean scores ranged from 2.67 ± 0.58 to 3.37 ± 0.52, indicating natural to moderate attitudes toward menstruation. The mean PMS score was 114.86 ± 35.15, indicating moderate PMS symptoms. PMS symptoms were detected in 36.4% of the nursing students. Thirty one percent of the students reported having dysmenorrhoea during every menstrual cycle. Students who had PMS symptoms scored significantly higher on the debilitation subscale and scored significantly lower on the denial subscale of the MAQ (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this research showed that menstruation was considered to be a natural event by most of the nursing students. In addition, dysmenorrhea was found to be the most common menstrual problem and the rate of PMS was found lower than that found in previous researches conducted in Turkey.

Attitudes and practices of school‐aged girls towards menstruation

The purpose of this study was to (i) investigate attitude and menstruation-related practices in Jordanian school-aged girls; (ii) identify the influence of premenstrual preparation on girls' attitude and menstruation-related practices. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 490 school-age girls (12-18 years) from different districts in Jordan. Self-report instruments [Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and Menstrual Practices Questionnaires (MPQ)] were used to assess the study variables. Descriptive statistics, correlation and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. It was found that menstrual attitude and practices were positively correlated. Poor attitude toward menstruation and low menstrual practices were significantly associated with inadequate premenstrual preparation. There is a need to prepare girls for menstruation before menarche. The role of the schools and teachers should be reinforced through formal and well planned reproductive health educators for girls and their mothers.