Survey study, 2002
How do family, school, health, and relationships affect how teenage girls feel about themselves?
Menstrual cycle phase, menstrual problems, family situation, and school type did not affect girls' self-esteem or depression. However, having a romantic partner markedly increased girls' self-evaluation.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 1371 girls in Warsaw with a mean age of 16 years about their home and school environment, health, menstrual cycle, sexual relationships, and family planning knowledge. They also measured the girls' self-esteem and depression.
What they found
About 70.9 percent of girls had regular menstrual cycles. About 65.6 percent had menstrual pain two years after their first period. Eighteen percent reported starting sexual intercourse by age 18. The mean age of first period was about 12.8 years. Family relationships, parental divorce, parental death, school type, menstrual cycle phase, and hormonal contraception did not affect self-evaluation or depression. Having a romantic partner markedly increased self-esteem.
What it means for you
Having a romantic partner was linked to better self-esteem. Menstrual problems, family situation, and school did not affect mental health. This suggests peer relationships matter more than menstrual symptoms for this age group. The main limitation: this study only included girls in Warsaw, Poland. All factors measured at one time, so cause and effect cannot be determined.
70.9
percent with regular menstrual cycles
65.6
percent with menstrual pain
12.8
mean age of first period in years
About the study
- Original title
- [Socio-economical status, state of health, menstrual cycle, sexual relation--how they influence girls' self-evaluation in surrounding conditions?]
- Authors
- Zabielska R, Tylka J
- Journal
- Przeglad lekarski
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 1,371
- What was tested
- None - observational survey.
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12152256/
Topics
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