متلازمة ماقبل الطمث واليات التكيف بين طالبات الجامعة

Premenstrual Syndrome and Coping Mechanisms among University Female Students

Abstract

Premenstrual syndrome is a common gynecological disease whose symptoms appear and include a group of behavioral, physical, and psychological changes in females during the luteal phase, ending with the onset of menses. This syndrome is considered one of the complex disorders that affect women at the age of reproduction.
Women use a variety of coping methods such as massages relaxation, hot shower, listening to music, herbal medications and other strategies to control and lessen premenstrual misery.
The descriptive correlational study was conducted on 372 female students at five colleges from Kerbala University. To assess the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, identify the coping mechanisms that used by students and determine the influence of coping mechanisms that used among female students on symptoms, the data was collected during the period from January 1 to January 31, 2024. The students were selection by utilizing a non-probability (convenience) sample.
Data was collected through using a self-report questionnaire, and version 26.0 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze and interpret the collected data. The data collection instrument was divided into three parts: socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics, which is contain (age, marital status, residency, college, stage of study, who she lives with, the mother’s level of education, monthly income, family history of premenstrual syndrome, age at menarche, menstrual cycle duration, menstrual cycle interval, regularity of the menstrual cycle, and amount of bleeding during the menstrual cycle), the premenstrual syndrome scale which contain 40 items, and the coping mechanisms scale which consist of 22 items.
The results of study reveals that female students associated with moderate to severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Female students show moderate coping mechanisms. coping mechanisms among female students highly influence the symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome, as indicated by high significant differences in physical, psychological, behavioral, and overall symptoms at p-values = .001. Significant relationship was found among female students’ symptoms with their residency, perceived monthly income, family history, menstrual duration, and amount of bleeding at p-values= .013, .019, .001, .012, and .001 respectively. Findings not reveal significant relationship with other variables such as age at menarche, menstruation interval, and regularity of menstruation.
Among the most important recommendations recommended by the researcher is educating the community and increasing female students’ awareness of the changes that occur during the premenstrual period and how to deal and cope with these changes in a healthy way by holding special workshops and courses for female students.