Survey study, 2015
What helps high school girls manage premenstrual symptoms?
Understanding how your body and mood change during your menstrual cycle helps reduce premenstrual distress. Family support and understanding also help reduce symptoms.
What they did
A survey of 217 high school girls aged 15 to 18 conducted in October 2009. The girls answered questions about premenstrual symptoms, how much symptoms interfered with school, what self-care strategies they used, and questions about their personality and whether their family understood their behaviour during the premenstrual phase.
What they found
Most girls (84.3 percent) had at least one premenstrual symptom. About half (51.2 percent) said premenstrual symptoms interfered with normal school activities. Most girls (57.1 percent) did not use any self-care strategies. Girls who understood their own physical and mental states during the premenstrual phase had fewer symptoms. Girls who felt their family understood their behaviour during the premenstrual phase also had less symptom interference.
What it means for you
Teaching girls about the physical and emotional changes of their menstrual cycle may help them manage symptoms, especially those with anxious traits. Family awareness appears protective. However, the study only looked at Japanese high school students in one time period, so findings may not apply to all adolescent girls or older women.
217
Girls surveyed
84.3 percent
Had at least one premenstrual symptom
51.2 percent
Had symptoms that interfered with school
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Distress Among Japanese High School Students: Self-Care Strategies and Associated Physical and Psychosocial Factors
- Authors
- Otsuka-Ono H, Sato I, Ikeda M et al.
- Journal
- Women & health
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 217
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2015.1061089
Topics
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